Loaded west London clubs stingy when it comes to scoring goals

Mark Hughes will be one of the few Premier League managers thankful of the international break. It will have allowed his newly assembled squad some precious time to blend ahead of this match with their west London rivals.

The R’s are a big price at 4/1 to produce a repeat of last season’s Herculean effort and knock over the champions of Europe. This price will be heavily influenced a) by Chelsea’s great league form and b) by QPR’s uninspiring start to proceedings; a 5-0 drubbing at Swansea’s hands being the lowlight of this spell.

However, this mauling occurred at a time when the influx of new arrivals at Loftus Road were still feeling each other’s games out; they should be far better prepared for this game with the Blues having had two weeks on the training pitch.

This probably won’t be enough to stop Roberto Di Matteo’s side taking all three points back to Stamford Bridge, as history indicates.

Their defeat here last term representing only the second time they’ve failed to beat the Hoops in nine meetings.

Chelsea are reasonably priced 4/5 favourites in this one but, for the same price, there is better value to be had backing under 2.5 goals in this one.

Six of the last nine contests at Loftus Road between the two have had goals in short supply and failed to surpass this mark, whereas 13 of the last 17 games contested at either ground have fallen short of the 2.5 line.

As well as a league meeting, an FA Cup clash was also played out in front of the Loftus Road faithful with each team chalking up a 1-0 win apiece.

A Juan Mata penalty ensured Chelsea’s progress in the FA Cup and for his side to win by a goal to nil this time is 6/1 with Ladbrokes. It’s 11/1 for Mark Hughes’ men to win in identical fashion.

The Blues’ 6-1 thrashing of QPR at the Bridge last term portrays a striking anomaly in the club’s recent head-to-heads; Fernando Torres showing his class with a hat-trick that day.

He’s a 16/1 shot to put the R’s to the sword with another here, though 4/1 for him to score the opener is a more level-headed suggestion given the premium goals tend to be at when these two mega-rich clubs lock their designer horns.

All odds and markets correct as of publication