QPR vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-08-05 14:00.
It was a debut to forget for new Queens Park Rangers manager Michael Beale, whose side went down 1-0 to Blackburn, whilst also failing to manage a single shot on target despite gambling with all five substitutes. Beale, however, indicated that he was happy with the performance, but more is needed in the final third if they are to escape the second-tier at the eighth attempt.
While QPR scraped a top-half finish last term, they were actually in the bottom half of the table in terms of just home league results (W10, D6, L7). That’s not to say they will begin poorly though, as QPR have lost just one of their seven home league openers since their last Premier League relegation (W3, D3, L1), though curiously four of the last five games in that sequence produced exactly two goals.
Tipped for promotion in many quarters despite having a threadbare squad, Middlesbrough did well to hold on for a 1-1 draw in their season opener against WBA following an impressive first-half showing. Manager Chris Wilder highlighted that Boro can’t just go out and “sign the Galácticos”, but he did assure fans that business will be done before the window slams shut.
Often slow starters on their travels, Boro have failed to win each of their last seven away league openers at this level since a 1-0 win at Charlton back in 2013 (D4, L3). The strong-jawed Teessiders have come from behind to draw in three of their last four away season openers however, although they didn’t win a single away league game when falling behind last term (D2, L9).
Players to watch: While he may not feature from the start, Middlesbrough’s Albert Adomah has made six goal contributions against his former club (G4, A2), but none since moving to QPR. Wilder may opt to use Marcus Forss from the start this time around and his only Championship goal last season came away at QPR!
Hot stat: Middlesbrough have failed to win each of the last six H2Hs (D3, L3) despite taking a lead in three.