QPR vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-10 15:00.
The appointment of former Queens Park Rangers player Gareth Ainsworth hasn’t inspired much of a resurgence in form as a pair of 3-1 defeats under his leadership extended their losing run to five games. Although QPR hold a seven-point cushion to the drop zone, their seemingly never ending 12-game winless league run is a massive cause for concern (D5, L7).
Ainsworth had said he wanted to “get Loftus Road rocking again” and he has done exactly that – at least in the away end – with Blackburn inflicting a ninth straight home league game without victory upon the Hoops in their last outing here (D2, L7). Only once in QPR’s 137-year history have they played out ten consecutive home league games without a win and that was back in 1969, a damning statistic indicating the sheer extent of their decline.
Following a goalless draw at the weekend with Preston North End, it’s been that all too familiar feeling of déjà vu at Watford after manager Slaven Bilić was sacked on Tuesday after just 25 league matches in charge (W10, D7, L8), marking Watford’s 18th manager in a decade of Gino Pozzo ownership. Just 17 minutes after that announcement, the Hornets confirmed that Chris Wilder would become their third manager this season in the ever-revolving door of managers at the club.
Wilder has previously gained promotion with Sheffield United and also oversaw a huge uptick in the form of Middlesbrough before the wheels eventually came off, leaving them near the drop zone. It’s an immediate reaction that Watford need if they’re to cut the four-point gap to the top-six, but Wilder has notably failed to win the opening game in each of his last three managerial roles (D3, L1).
Players to watch: QPR’s Jamal Lowe is yet to win a game whilst making a goal contribution since joining the club (D3, L1). In contrast, Watford’s Ismaïla Sarr rarely battles in vain after avoiding defeat in each of his last seven goal contributing appearances for the club (W6, D1).
Hot stat: Watford have failed to win six of their nine away league games as pre-match favourites this season (W3, D5, L1).