Bolton v QPR: Coyle’s side to have the upper hand at the Reebok
Published:It’s getting pretty desperate for these two and while Bolton’s home record is pitiful, they are worth backing at 5/4 to see off a QPR side plummeting towards relegation.
QPR have won just one of their last 15 league fixtures and only remain outside of the bottom three thanks to their marginally superior goal difference.
But it’s their failure against their fellow strugglers that will ultimately prove their downfall.
They currently possess the league’s worst record against bottom-half sides, having won just twice in 14 fixtures.
And in seven meetings against the four other sides occupying the bottom five, QPR have lost four and won just twice. In recent weeks, Mark Hughes’ side lost 2-1 at home to Wolves before suffering a 3-2 defeat at Ewood Park.
To compound their misery, QPR have not beaten Bolton since 1998 and were thumped 4-0 in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the campaign. The visitors are available at 11/5 to turn the tide with an away win.
Bolton meanwhile have precious little to shout about. They have lost nine of 13 league games at the Reebok and a return of just eight points at home is the fewest of any Premier League side.
Owen Coyle’s side have lost four league encounters in succession and have scored just once in their last five league outings.
But goal-shy Bolton will rarely have a better chance of finding the net than against a QPR side who have gone 18 league games without keeping a clean sheet.
That being said, both sides are struggling in front of goal. In their last 20 league games, Bolton have scored more than once on just five occasions, while the Hoops have netted two or more goals just six times over the same period.
Under 2.5 goals is on offer at 10/11, while Bolton are 3/1 to win by a single goal.
