The Championship Betting: It'll take more than Hart to help QPR

Championship / Andrew French / 18 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ex Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has been given the job of getting struggling QPR back on track, but Sheffield United isn't exactly an 'easy' start

"Now Paul Hart has been given the job, for the rest of the season, of getting them back on track. However, you have to go back to October 20 to find Rangers' last home win, and they have conceded 10 goals in four games at Loftus Road since."

With Paul Hart now at the helm, QPR's recent poor run might soon become a distant memory; but not before they've lost to Sheffield United says Andrew French. Elsewhere, Andrew can see wins for Forest and Bristol City.

While Newcastle understandably attract most of the attention and plaudits at the moment, many people are noticing the excellent run that Billy Davies has got Nottingham Forest on currently. Fourth in the table on the back of a 13-game unbeaten sequence, Forest are hard to ignore right now - and I believe they will take three more points from out-of-sorts Preston at the City Ground this weekend. Forest's 1-0 win at Swansea last Saturday was only the Welsh club's second home defeat of the season, while in winning their last two home matches, Forest have smacked in nine goals.

Contrast that with Preston who beat struggling Plymouth at the weekend to end a seven-game winless streak. The Lilywhites have also struggled for goals - the two they netted against Preston made it just three in six games. With Forest firing, I think backing them at [1.84] makes sense.

*****************************

It wasn't so long ago that Sheffield United were dropping like the proverbial stone - but four wins in an unbeaten run of six games has got them heading in the right direction again and they are now only a point outside the play-off places. They have not conceded a goal in their last three games and it seems that Kevin Blackwell's side have emerged from the gloom that had enveloped them.

It's a vastly different story for QPR, who have been attracting plenty of media attention for all the wrong reasons as they head in the opposite direction to the Blades. Now Paul Hart has been given the job, for the rest of the season, of getting them back on track. However, you have to go back to October 20 to find Rangers' last home win, and they have conceded 10 goals in four games at Loftus Road since. Therefore, I suggest backing United at [3.05].

******************************

The rise of Ipswich continues with Roy Keane's side rapidly losing the laughing stock tag as they continue on their 10-game unbeaten run. They beat promotion chasing Blackpool 3-1 at the weekend, although victories have been the exception and not the norm during this run: the Tractor Boys have drawn seven of the 10. The East Anglia side have shared the spoils in five of their last seven away from home, and I can see them picking up another point when they visit Scunthorpe this weekend.

Scunny themselves are unbeaten in four, but like Ipswich draws have been the dominating factor, as they have finished with a point in three of the quartet. Therefore, back the draw in this one at [3.5].

******************************

For a team that lost just six home games in the previous two Championship seasons, Bristol City are now overdue a home win after failing to take full points in either of their last two outings at Ashton Gate. However, the Robins showed they are still in good heart with a fine 3-1 at Leicester last midweek, and there was no shame in a narrow defeat at in-form Doncaster on Saturday.

Visitors Reading are still struggling to pull themselves out of the relegation mire, and the fact they are still only one place above the drop zone finally cost manager Brendan Rodgers his job this week. The fact the Royals have kept just one clean sheet in 15 games suggests there will be chances for City - and so I suggest backing them at [2.3].

*Andrew is showing a profit of approximately £179 (£10 level stake/liability) on all his selections so far this season