Premier League Betting: Reading v QPR

QPR will be looking to Loic Remy to provide the answers.

Reading and QPR meet in the last chance saloon on Sunday, with both teams needing a win to have a chance of survival. Dan Fitch picks out the value bets...

Reading v QPR
Sunday, KO 13:13, Live on Sky Sports 1

I'm sure that when the good folk at Sky decided to televise this match, they envisaged that at least one of these teams would still be in with a shot of survival. 

Instead we are left with a scenario where any loser will be relegated, while the only reward for the winner is to survive for another week or two. The worst result for all concerned is the draw, which could see both teams relegated if Aston Villa were to get a point on Monday.

All of which suggests a game where both teams will go at it with reckless abandon. The chances are that they will both get relegated anyway, so why not go down swinging?

Both sides teams are in shocking form considering that they're meant to have been fighting for survival. In Reading's defence, they at least have the excuse that their players really aren't good enough for the Premier League. Just one point from the last 27 is surely confirmation of this.

QPR have talent within their squad, but the ill-considered way that it has been put together has not been conducive to producing a team. They started March with back-to-back wins, but have since lost four and drawn one of their next five games.

Where both teams have been consistent is the amount of goals that their games have produced. Some 11 of Reading's last 14 games have produced over 2.5 goals, while QPR have done likewise in four of their last seven matches. 

With so much on the line it would be disappointing if both sides weren't throwing the kitchen sink at each other, so over 2.5 goals at 1.9210/11 and the 1.715/7 for both teams to score, look like shrewd investments. 

When it comes to who will score, the only player in any sort of form in front of goal is QPR's Loic Remy. Even so, the 2.35/4 on offer for the French striker to find the net looks a bit short. The 6.25/1 for him to score first looks a better bet. 

Reading score a lot of late goals, so it is QPR who are likelier to open the scoring and can be backed to do so at 2.111/10. The home side are priced at 1.9520/21 to score the last goal.

It's really no wonder that Reading are bottom of the league when you consider that they have conceded the first goal in 21 of their 34 games. Given the season these two teams have had it would be no surprise if the produced the result that neither wants - a draw. The half-time QPR/full-time draw double result is available at 15.014/1 and could be worth a small stakes bet.

Perhaps the most pertinent market to examine as these two scrap it out at the foot of the league is Betfair's Rock Bottom market. Reading are the 1.674/6 favourites, with QPR at 2.47/5. While they're both level on points and are separated by just one goal, it is Reading who have the tougher fixtures, with their next home game against Manchester City. Therefore, the odds look about right.

All in all, this game probably has more meaning as a sort of pre-season friendly between two of the contenders for the 2013-14 Championship title, than it does over the relegation battle.

Recommended Bets

Back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.9210/11
Back Loic Remy to score first at 6.25/1
Back QPR half-time/the draw full-time at 15.014/1