Both Queens Park Rangers and Reading started dramatically this season. In the first weeks, the two teams alternated as the last team of the Championship. After two months, however, QPR started with an advance, where Reading lingered in the relegation zone. Reading must fear relegation, while QPR may dream of promotion to the Premier League.
Queens Park Rangers:
Queens Park Rangers has started a series of very strong results in recent weeks. At the beginning of December, it was narrowly lost from leader Leed United, but since then Steve McClaren’s team has been combining the good results. It was well won by promotion candidates Middlesbrough (2-1) and Nottingham Forest (0-1). On Wednesday-afternoon, Ipswich Town was set aside 3-0. The little Nahki Wells was again one of the stars at The R’s. The attacker from Bermuda made his sixth goal of the season and is the current top scorer of the team from London.
That QPR after 24 games on two points of the top six state, may still be seen as a surprise. Both the dramatic start of the season and the transfer ban this summer seemed to be a harbinger of a long agony in the Championship. McClaren, however, has put his team together, with important roles for strong holders Joel Lynch and Luke Freeman. The former coach of FC Twente was in the English tabloids after the first few weeks several times considered for a dismissal, but has (again) proven to be an excellent trainer.
Reading:
The dramatic results are only in Reading. Also under the guidance of the successor of Paul Clement, the Portuguese José Gomes, Reading has not been able to end the long series of contests without victory. The last win dates from almost two months ago (3-2 win at Bristol City). Since then, The Royals have only won four points out of eight games. This poor performance meant the dismissal for Clement. Gomes, who started this season as head coach of the Portuguese Rio Ave, is given the job of keeping Reading in the Championship the remainder of the season.
On his visit to Millwall, his appointment has not yet caused a shock effect. In London, The Royals began to express themselves in a slightly dramatic way. Within ten minutes Reading was behind and it came with ten men. Tyler Blackett approached the Millwall goal-maker in a very dangerous manner one minute after the opening goal and was allowed to shower very early. Despite having a man less, Reading got enough chances on the equalizer. John Swift had the biggest chance of the 1-1 with a shot on the crossbar. In contrast to an equalizer, however, there was a red card. Leandro Bacuna had to step in just before time and thus Reading ended the game with nine men.
PREDICTION: QPR to win @ 1.65
