by Tom Allen
Everton have started the season in tremendous form but look on the short side
to claim another win this weekend and I'll be taking them on at Loftus Road.
The Toffees currently occupy fourth spot in the Premier League and David
Moyes' side are just a point adrift of the two Manchester clubs.
Having started the campaign with a well deserved 1-0 victory over the Red
Devils in their opening fixture, Everton have also beaten Aston Villa, Swansea
and Southampton en route to occupying a Champions League place and that should
be their aim come the end of the season.
Their key man so far this term has been Belgium international Marouane
Fellaini but the midfielder will miss the trip to west London with a knee injury
and that is a big blow to Moyes.
Everton might have enough about them to cope with his absence but their
record on the road in top flight in 2012 doesn't feature many victories and I am
more than happy to take them on at a little over even money.
It is just three triumphs away from Goodison Park in the Premier League since
New Years Day and Everton have already succumbed at West Brom this term, as well
as at Elland Road against Leeds in the League Cup.
A 2-2 draw at Wigan last time out was ultimately a valuable point, Leighton
Baines's late penalty salvaging something for the visitors, but their were
plenty of signs of encouragement for QPR boss Mark Hughes that afternoon and
this could just be the match when his side turn the corner.
It was a wretched start for Rangers this season, beaten 5-0 at home by
Swansea on opening day, but, while they currently prop up the rest of the
division, there have been recent signs of improvement.
A goalless draw at Loftus Road against Chelsea has been followed by three
narrow defeats, all by a single goal, and QPR certainly know how to find the net
with five goals in those reversals.
It's QPR's frailties defensively that will concern Hughes but Fellaini's
absence limits the visitors threat going forward and, if Rangers can somehow
find a way to score first, then I see them taking at least a point from what
should be an entertaining fixture.
2pts Back QPR-Draw (Double Chance, vs. Everton) @ 4/6 (Stan
James,
Coral,
Bwin)
