Everton v QPR: Toffees should be untroubled by Austin-less Rangers

Tim Howard has a great opportunity to record clean sheet no.4

QPR take the division's worst away record to the strangely inconsistent Everton but with the visitors shorn of star striker Charlie Austin, Joe Dyer is predicting a relatively easy night for the Toffees...

Everton v QPR
Monday December 15, KO 20:00
Live on Sky Sports 1 

Everton

After finishing fifth last season and signing Romelu Lukaku in the summer this was supposed to be the season that Everton kicked on and really troubled the Top Four. But it hasn't happened... yet. Whether it's juggling Europe - and it's hard to see any other reason for it as the personnel is largely the same as last year - or something else, Everton's season has not really ignited. They come into this game sat 13th in the league with nearly identical home and away records, that's two wins at Goodison and two on the road. 

Roberto Martinez is without Gareth Barry while Steven Naismith is a doubt.

QPR 

It's been poor so far but it is improving for Rangers. A pair of home wins (interspersed by a 2-0 defeat at Swansea) have breathed life into the west London side' season and though they are in the relegation zone, there are four points between them and bottom side Leicester. A win on Monday would boost them to the dizzy heights of 15th. 

Sadly for QPR fans eight-goal striker Charlie Austin misses the game following his red card against Burnley last time out and you fear for Rangers without him - their next highest scorers are Leroy Fer and Eduardo Vargas who have each scored twice in the Premier League.

Match Odds 

It's not often that a team with just two home wins from seven games is priced at 1.4840/85 for the three points. But then again not many teams are as bad on the road as QPR. Harry Redknapp's side have lost every single one of their seven road games in the Premier League, conceding 17 goals and scoring just two of their own. It's a painful run but while results haven't picked up you could argue performances have with a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea reading quite well, successive defeats at Newcastle and Swansea saw QPR keep the opposition out until the 78th minute in both matches. 

Everton's last home game ended in a 1-1 draw with Hull while they have been held by Leicester and Swansea, two of the worst away teams in the league, and beaten by Crystal Palace. Goodison Park is no fortress.

Under/Over 2.5 Goals

Everton's 24 goals puts them in the upper echelons of the Premier League's top scoring sides, but most of the good work was done early in the season and I favour Unders at odds-against on Monday night. Rangers have celebrated a paltry total of two goals on their travels and it might be that just one goal is enough for the home side under the Goodison floodlights. Tim Howard and co. have kept just three clean sheets this season but this is a great opportunity to make it four.  On that note they are 2.265/4 to do so.

Sidemarket Selection - Halftime Score

Rangers have shown improved form on the road and were able to frustrate both Swansea and Newcastle until late on in recent away games while also keeping a clean sheet at home to Burnley last time out. In light of Everton's indifferent showings at home this season a dabble on 0-0 in the halftime score market might reward at 3.412/5 or thereabouts.

Recommended Bets
1pt Back 0-0 Halftime Draw @ 3.412/5
2pts Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.1211/10

Joe Dyer's Premier League P&L

Staked: 20.5 pts
Returned: 13.74 pts
P/L: -6.76 pts