QPR vs Middlesbrough Predictions

• QPR have lost four of their last five home Championship games.
• Middlesbrough lost only one of their final six league games last season (2 Wins, 3 Draws).
• QPR had no shots on target and won 0 corners in their 1-0 loss at Blackburn last week.

Beale has a big job on to beat Boro 

The scale of the task facing Michael Beale is now becoming clear and, after last week’s dismal showing at Blackburn, QPR must be opposed to get a home win against Middlesbrough on Saturday. Rivalling Huddersfield for ‘inept Championship performance of the week’, Rangers failed to register a single shot on target or win a corner in their 1-0 reverse at Ewood Park.

Fans who saw their meek 3-0 pre-season defeat at home to a Crystal Palace side featuring less than half of their best XI won’t have been surprised because something is badly lacking from the R’s make-up right now. The expected returns of midfielders Chris Willock and Luke Amos this week will be a step in the right direction, but it may not be enough to spark a rare home win.

QPR lost four of their last five Championship home games last term, conceding ten goals across that span, and it is in defence where they could be found out by a Boro side. Chris Wilder’s side created plenty at home to West Brom last week, but were made to pay for not going 2-0 up when the Baggies pushed on after the break to claim a deserved draw.

Teessiders can take the points back home

The addition of Marcus Forss should make the Teessiders more efficient in front of goal in the long-term, but he needs time to get up to speed. Chuba Akpom looked lively against WBA and linked up well with his teammates while the return of Paddy McNair from suspension boost Boro’s spine here.

Wilder’s men lost only one of their last six road games in last season’s run-in and scored at least once in eight of their last ten away trips, so they look worthy of a draw no bet play here.

A 1-0 victory is forecast for the visitors because they managed multiple goals only twice in their last six away games but maintained four clean sheets.