Premier League weekend betting preview: Net gains for QPR

The stage might have been Wigan's, but QPR did their survival hopes the power of good with a resounding 3-0 victory over Swansea on Wednesday night and we believe it puts the foundations in place for a solid performance against West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

The Hoops were being cast off as relegation certainties when they emerged from a succession of mostly self-inflicted disappointments and faced up to a daunting nine-match run-in that included games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

However, three straight wins at Loftus Road have changed the complexion entirely, propelling the R's out of the drop zone with a two-point cushion for safe keeping, and the convincing manner of their stroll against the Swans merely underlines the fact that this is a team that really doesn't need to be overly anxious.

Rangers have the personnel capable of winning tougher fixtures than the teams around them and though Mark Hughes is keen to point out that their home form will be key to their survival chances, we suspect he's merely looking to take the pressure off his players ahead of the trip to the Midlands and we fancy it could do the trick.

The Welshman's take is understandable because Rangers must travel to Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium in their last two away games but there's definitely some mileage to be had here because Roy Hodgson's men are showing signs of a team that is ready to tail-off with the Caribbean in their sights.

The Baggies put up little resistance against Manchester City in midweek, going down 4-0 and barely creating a noteworthy chance, similar in many ways to previous away matches at Manchester United and Everton. And as the Caribbean beaches draw ever closer, such apathy will only transmit itself to their performances both at home and against bottom-half opposition.

Teams with something to play for have more to gain the later they meet West Brom and we reckon QPR can succeed where both Wigan and Blackburn have recently failed, by taking maximum points against the Baggies.

That said, given how precious a point might be in the final analysis when added to that two-point cushion, we think it's only wise to keep the stalemate onside and that explains why a bet on QPR (draw no bet) is the preferred course of action.

Recommended bet:

2pts QPR to beat West Brom (draw no bet) at 7/4 (Skybet)

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