Derby vs QPR Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

QPR come here in good form and a few weeks ago might have really fancied this but there will be a good atmosphere at Pride Park as Derby play their first home game under Gary Rowett and the former Birmingham boss is likely to have a positive effect.

He did an excellent job in the Second City and should provide the Rams with a much needed lift. They came within minutes of winning the East Midland’s derby at the City Ground in his first game in charge, only to concede late on but there were some positive signs.

A few other players are now chipping in with more goals, which should take some of the burden off Tom Ince, who has been their biggest threat this term. David Nugent has popped up with a couple of goals and the same goes for Matej Vydra who has scored in 2 of his last 3 outings after a frustrating season. Backing Vydra to score anytime at 7/4 could be worth a bet here as he is a player who tends to have real hot and cold streaks in front of goal and this could be the start of a hot one.

Derby struggled towards the end of Steve McClaren’s second reign but their overall home record is still reasonably strong. They’ve kept a clean sheet in 58% of their matches at Pride Park this term in the Championship and have scored twice or more themselves in 5 of their last 7 home games so things are steadily improving in the final third.

QPR have been going well under Ian Holloway and have reached a safe mid-table position. They’re no longer in any danger of going down but don’t really have anything to play for over their final eight games so there is a danger they could end up coasting towards the summer break. They have still lost 44% of their away games this term and their only win in the last five on the road was at Birmingham, who have been in free-fall since Rowett left.

The visitors may be in the better overall form but this could be a classic case of a new manager getting a reaction from his players and on paper they are the superior side at both ends of the pitch, so backing Derby to win at 19/20 looks to offer value.