Why Crystal Palace will stun leaders QPR

QPR's home record reads 12 wins, five draws and one loss while Crystal Palace's away record reads one win, three draws and 14 losses, so it's a brave man or woman that opposes the Championship table-toppers this weekend. On this occasion though, we're feeling rather bold...

QPR v Crystal Palace
Why is it that our hunch is to lay the Championship's best hosts against its worst travellers at [1.54]? There's the fact that QPR head into this on the back of perhaps their poorest result of the season, a defeat to Millwall, whereas Crystal Palace overcame Cardiff. It's also notable that the Eagles have beaten Norwich and held Cardiff away, while the leaders have the Alejandro Faurlin controversy that could result in a points deduction weighing on their minds. Above all else, the motivation of facing a former boss is one that should never be underestimated. Banking on it worked for us when Swansea faced Watford, and we're willing to take a chance on Neil Warnock's team suffering a similar fate.

Bournemouth v Southampton
The Cherries endured what was incredibly their first loss since Eddie Howe's departure in midweek against Exeter but they are still yet to lose at Dean Court in 2011, where they have won three of their four against top-six rivals. With the Saints dropping points in four of their last six on the road, don't write off Bournemouth at [3.1].

Rotherham v Bury
As in League One, fifth clash with second in League Two on Saturday, only with the roles reversed. Bury are up to second after a run of four straight wins that includes 3-0 romps away to Shrewsbury and Hereford sides that rank highly in the form table. So while Rotherham have lost just twice as hosts, [2.82] is a tough price to ignore on Bury.

Like those recommendations? A treble laying QPR and backing Bournemouth and Bury pays out £105.25 for a fiver stake using the Betfair Coupon...

Published: 11 Mar 2011

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