QPR vs Bristol City Prediction: Low-scoring affair on the cards

Bristol City will continue their Championship play-off push when they travel to the capital on Saturday afternoon (15:00) for a clash with Queens Park Rangers.

The visitors currently occupy fifth spot in the table with just five matches left to play, while the hosts are sat in 15th, seven points clear of the relegation zone. Read on for my QPR vs Bristol City prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

The hosts remain without the services of Jake Clarke-Salter, Harvey Vale, Alfie Lloyd, Steve Cook and Ilias Chair, while Zan Celar is also sidelined.

Michael Frey is closing in on a return after missing the last three outings for the R's, but Saturday's tussle is expected to come too soon for the forward.

Rayan Kolli was an unused substitute in the victory over Oxford United, after recently returning to first-team training, so he could be given some minutes this weekend.

The visitors, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns heading into the weekend, however they'll still be without long-term absentees Luke McNally and Ayman Benarous.

Liam Manning has insisted that Scott Twine has "a chance" of featuring for the visitors after missing the last two games with a groin injury. In Twine's absence, George Earthy and Max Bird have been deployed as the two attacking midfielders in the wins over Watford and West Bromwich Albion, so they can expect to start if Saturday's game comes too soon for the 25-year-old.

George Tanner returned from knee surgery to make an appearance in midweek and he can be expected to be involved once again for the Robins.

QPR vs Bristol City Odds

The hosts are 2/1 to claim a vital three points, giving them an implied win probability of 33.3%, while Bristol City are 11/8 to win the game and keep their play-off hopes alive. The draw is available to back at 23/20.

Anis Mehmeti currently leads the anytime goalscorer market at 9/4, alongside Nahki Wells who is available to back at the same price.

Bristol City to win @ 11/8

The Robins have been one of the surprise packages of the Championship this season, and as mentioned in the introduction, they have a real chance of being involved in the play-offs come the end of the season.

The visitors have tasted defeat just once in their last 10 games, which has propelled them up to fifth in the table, although they sit a whopping 22 points behind the automatic promotion places.

They'll also be looking nervously over their shoulders as they're only three points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough, so Manning will know its vital for his side to keep winning to keep themselves within the play-off hunt.

QPR, meanwhile, sit 15th and realistically have little to play for. They're seven points off the relegation zone, and they've lost five of their last eight. Wednesday's victory over Oxford ended a seven-game winless run, but Bristol City will provide a much sterner test here.

Given the form and league positions of both sides, I think backing the Bristol City win at 11/8 is the way to go.

Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6

With QPR lacking available attacking options, most notably creative midfielder Chair, a high-scoring shootout looks unlikely this weekend.

Only six of the home side's outings at Loftus Road this season have seen over 3.5 goals scored with 16 of Bristol City’s 20 away days also following that trend. In fact, 13 of those road trips have produced a maximum of two goals this campaign.

In addition, eight of Bristol City's last 10 Championship away games have stayed under 2.5 goals, so I'm backing a low-scoring game.

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