Opta Big Match Stats: Wigan to leave QPR floundering

 

This relegation blockbuster at Loftus Road gets the big match treatment this weekend as Christian Crowther offers up three Opta related tips...

 

QPR v Wigan, Sunday, 16:05, Sky Sports 1

 

Queens Park Rangers have won just one of their last seven home league games (D3 L3)

A prerequisite for Premier League survival is being able to pick up a half-dozen home wins during a season at the very least. With this in mind, it really is no surprise to see QPR floundering seven points adrift of safety with seven games left to decide their fate. The R's home record is actually the worst in the whole of the Football League. Despite vociferous home support, QPR have only picked up two victories at Loftus Road in 2012/13; painful reading for R's fans. Their visitors, in contrast, are simply resuming normal service. Wigan normally wait until the closing months to start playing well - highlighted by two wins, two draws and a single loss from their last five away league games. And their continuing good form can spell the death knell for QPR.

Best Bet: Back Wigan to win @ 3.3

 

After keeping four clean sheets in five league matches at the beginning of 2013, QPR have conceded 14 times in their last six matches

The damning stats continue to pile up for Harry Redknapp's beleaguered side. Even the expensive acquisition of Twitter specialist Chris Samba from Russian side Anzhi has not been able to plug the gaping holes in the Rangers defence. Admittedly, the squad has been consistently ravaged by defensive injuries this season making it nearly impossible to get a consistent back four to line up. Jose Bosingwa, Fabio and Armand Traore have all spent extensive periods on the sidelines. The net result of this lack of cohesion has been the third worst goal difference in the Premier League and six goals conceded in their last two games.

Recommended Bet: Back Wigan to score two goals or more @ 2.9

 

11 of Wigan's 36 league goals this season (31%) have been scored in the 15 minutes immediately following half-time

Wigan clearly react well to a half-time team talk according to this stat. This must be one of the reasons their manager Roberto Martinez is so sought after in the game. It's not easy to put a finger on such trends but, as humble punters, they are certainly there to serve us. Encouragingly, four of Wigan's last five away games in all competitions have seen them find the net within the first fifteen minutes of the restart. Aside from their blip against Liverpool, the Latics have notched in every one of their last 14 games, scoring six in the last three.

Recommended Bet: Back more goals in the second half @ 2.2

 

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