Championship: In-form Brentford to further QPR’s domestic misery

Lee Gormley | October 29, 2015

Brentford host QPR in Championship clash

Brentford will host fellow mid-table side QPR aiming to make it four wins on the bounce domestically, but face a tough test in this Friday night clash, having failed to overcome their London rivals since August 1965, stretching back eight meetings.

In their first match-up since 2004, Lee Carsley’s Bees are 27/20 with Coral to run home ruling over their opposition, while Chris Ramsey’s travelling R’s are 2/1 to earn their first away victory since August, after two consecutive defeats on the road.

The visitors currently occupy 10th-place in the second tier table, but sit only two points and places above their next opponents, though it’s Brentford who have looked more like a team capable of challenging for a play-off place in recent weeks.

Contrasting Championship form

Brentford could only manage two victories from their opening 10 domestic matches this season, but since being overcome 2-0 by Derby County on their travels, they have not dropped a single point.

QPR were expected to be in the mix for automatic promotion back to the Premier League this term, but they have dropped off the pace at this early stage, with indifferent form seeing them win just two of their previous five games.

Reluctant interim coach Carsley previously stated he didn’t want his current Griffin Park role, but instead has been given the job until the end of this current campaign.

Injury concerns on both sides

The current coach will be without Andreas Bjelland and Jota through injury, while Lasse Vibe is pushing for a start after impressing from the bench in the win over Charlton Athletic. Brentford also extended on-loan Spurs starlet John Swift recently to help boost their promotion bid.

Ramsey has injury conerns of his own, with star striker Charlie Austin continuing his comeback, though he may well start Friday night’s encounter from the bench, despite claiming he is fit.

“We’ll check on Charlie; he’s raring to go,” stated Ramsey. “But it depends on how much gas he has in the tank as to whether he starts.

“Charlie voiced his opinion about getting in the team, but sometimes you have to protect them from themselves.”

Astute attackers on show

The R’s boss is relishing the prospect of having both Austin and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas lead his line in a two-pronged spearhead though, with the latter striking five times in eight outings, including the opener in a recent win against MK Dons. Emmanuel-Thomas is 6/1 to open proceedings again in his latest outing.

“I think we can accommodate both [Austin and Emmanuel-Thomas],” Ramsey added. “Jay will play at Brentford, it’s now for him to lose his place. He’s worked very hard.”

Austin was heavily tipped for a summer switch away from Loftus Road but has remained within the R’s set-up, and the England international call-up is 5/1 to bag the game’s last goal, as he prepares to make an impact from the bench.

Meanwhile, Marco Djuricin will undoubtedly be a threat for the hosts and the Austria international forward is 6/4 to add to his three goals for the campaign anytime on home turf.

Brentford have scored at least twice in their last three Championship outings and are 21/20 to do so again this time out, while QPR are hoping to continue their fixture dominance, having gone undefeated in six Bees battles.

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Coral’s top tip: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to score first @ 6/1