Tottenham vs QPR: Hoops’ away-day woes to continue

Despite their somewhat shaky start to the new campaign, with a loss at Newcastle being followed by two underwhelming home draws against West Brom and Norwich – new boss Andre Villas Boas insisted he was not worried, and always expected his new side to take a bit of time to find their feet.

After their comfortable 3-1 away win at Reading last week, the former Chelsea boss must have begun to feel somewhat vindicated. A first home win this weekend (at 1/2), following the visit of QPR, will only emphasise his point.

Villas-Boas has made six signings, but the one player thriving the most under the new gaffer is the man who is well-accustomed to the White Hart Lane surroundings – Jermain Defoe, whose sprightly and energetic performances have been rewarded with three goals already this term.

Defoe is only two goals away from registering 200 goals for the north London club, and is 7/2 to get one closer to that by nabbing the first goal on Sunday.

QPR are one of the few Premier League sides who can ‘boast’ of making more new signings than their London rivals, with Mark Hughes having virtually brought in a whole team of new faces. It’s no surprise then, that they too have taken some time to gel. Hughes’ side have claimed only two points from a possible 12, but more surprisingly for a side with a wealth of attacking talent, they’ve scored only twice.

All eyes will be on who starts in goal for Spurs, with Villas-Boas needing to decide whether to stick with the ever-reliable Brad Friedel or trust new signing Hugo Lloris to take over the gloves.

Given QPR’s shy start in front of goal, whichever man starts should be confident of keeping a clean sheet (at 5/4), but less assured Spurs fans will be keeping a worried eye over two men in particular.

Bobby Zamora has scored both of his side’s goals so far this season and will be more than happy to claim his third at a ground where he had little success back in 2003.

Such a scenario is not so unfamiliar to the Spurs fans who watched Adel Taarabt score the winner last season at Loftus Road before being sent off. The same player is 12/1 to repeat the feat on Sunday.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing