- Team form: Queens Park Rangers are unbeaten in five games (W3, D2), drawing their last two Championship fixtures.
- Head-to-head: The last two away H2Hs have seen QPR fail to win.
- Millwall H2H record: Millwall have won three of the last five Championship H2Hs (D1, L1), including a 2-1 win five months ago.
Millwall to maintain head-to-head dominance
Millwall currently sit third in the Championship table with 73 points from 42 matches, 15 more points than 11th placed Queens Park Rangers (58 points from 42 games).
However, their recent form has taken a bit of a hit, with one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five league games.
At odds of 1.7, the hosts look overpriced for a home win against a QPR side that have failed to win in their last two away trips to Millwall.
Backing Millwall to edge out the Londoners on Saturday is our main selection for this encounter, with the hosts’ superior H2H record and league position offering enough of an advantage to side with Alex Neil’s men.
Goals at both ends should be expected
Home form and goals conceded
Although Millwall have lost their last two home games, they have won 11 of their 21 Championship home fixtures this season (D3, L7). Millwall have conceded 25 times in total.
Defensive approach and visiting threat
The Lions' ability to defend in numbers and counterattack through the wide areas in transition is a key factor behind their success. The visitors are equally potent going forward and have the tools to give Millwall a run for their money in this one.
In-form attackers on both sides
- Josh Coburn has scored three of Millwall’s last five goals and his presence gives them a focal point in attack, while Mihailo Ivanovic has been their most reliable performer up front this season, hitting nine goals in 40 Championship appearances.
- Rumarn Burrell leads the line for QPR with ten goals in 27 league appearances this campaign, and his pace and power can cause problems for Millwall’s defense.
- Paul Smyth has also picked up recently, scoring three goals in QPR’s last five, and Harvey Vale has three assists in the same five games to boost QPR’s attacking output.
The battle of the systems
Alex Neil has done a great job at Millwall, bringing a modern approach to the club where they build from the back and remain compact with a sturdy spine. Julien Stéphan has done a similarly good job at QPR since his arrival, bringing a more possession based approach, an organised pressing system and an emphasis on developing youth.
We predict that the contrasting styles of these two teams will clash in what could be a tactical chess match. However, QPR have looked the better side of late and we expect them to push the Lions close in this encounter.
As such, we’re going for over 2.5 goals at 1.85 and both teams to score at 1.8.
