QPR vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-22 15:00.
After three league wins on the bounce for the first time since October 2022, Queens Park Rangers’ push to clamber out of the Championship relegation zone has stalled after they picked up only one point from a possible six. The latest of those results was a disappointing 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, which saw a disappointing late collapse from a side that had previously conceded beyond the 80th minute just once all Championship season.
The West London side now return to Loftus Road Stadium hoping to add to a paltry total of two league victories there all season (D3, L5) – the joint-lowest tally in England’s second tier. To make matters worse, QPR are on a three-game H2H losing run against upcoming opponents Southampton, although all those defeats were by a slim one-goal margin.
After an inconsistent start to the campaign under Russell Martin, Southampton are now flying, boasting the longest current unbeaten sequence in the EFL of 14 matches (W9, D5) and consequently remaining in contention to capitalise on any slip-ups from the top-two. Their away form has been good too, with just two defeats in 11 Championship away outings this term (W5, D4), although the Hampshire outfit need to address their negative goal difference on their travels.
That said, only Leicester have scored more on the road in the league from the 81st minute onwards in 2023/24 than Southampton, who in that period of time have hit winners at Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle, Hull City and Millwall, as well as snatching a last-gasp equaliser against Preston North End. They’ll therefore likely be at their most threatening as the game wears on in what head coach Martin will hope will further improve an already happy history against QPR as both a player and manager (W7, D6, L2).
Players to watch: After scoring in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, Samuel Edozie will hope his form can now earn him successive starts for the first time since September. Meanwhile, Chris Willock will be aiming to commence another scoring streak after netting in three straight matches prior to QPR’s two most recent encounters.
Hot stat: Three-quarters of the last 16 Championship games involving either side produced fewer than 2.5 total goals.