QPR vs Oxford United Prediction: R’s put the R in resurgence

QPR secured arguably the shock result of the weekend on Saturday afternoon as they dismantled play-off chasing Norwich City 3-0 at Loftus Road. Marti Cifuentes’ men have had to wait until December for their first home win of the season but it appears their patience with the manager may have paid off, as they are undefeated in their last four outings. 

Remarkably that run has taken them out of the bottom three, and they will look to build on that as Oxford United come to town on Wednesday night (19:45, Sky Sports+). The U’s are just one point and two places above their hosts in the Championship table, so this is another six-pointer at the bottom. Below you can find my QPR vs Oxford United predictions.

Team News

Despite victory, the big blow for Cifuentes was the fact that striker Zan Celar was taken off after 13 minutes and may miss this game. With Michael Frey also out, the R’s are limited with options up front, but they did find a star off the bench. Rayan Kolli, a 19-year-old Algerian, came on on Saturday to replace Celar, and scored twice. 

He is now sure to start this game, with Alfie Lloyd another option up top. Ilias Chair and Karamoko Dembele are still out with injuries, which could explain the R’s lack of goal threat this season, but Nicolas Madsen and impressive winger Koki Saito could provide some creativity. 

Football Odds

Jimmy Dunne found the net from right-back, and alongside Steve Cook, Liam Morrison and Kenneth Paal, kept a rare clean sheet. The gaffer is unlikely to tinker with that back four, as long as the left-back recovers from the issue that saw him come off at half-time - with Paul Nardi also in line to start in goal once again.

Frey and Jake-Clarke Salter are in line to return over the coming weeks, and those two will provide a massive boost for the R’s, while Jack Colback continues to work through his rehabilitation plan following the first surgery of his professional career.

Meanwhile Kyle Edwards should be back involved for Oxford, and is one of a couple of players who should have benefited from the postponement of their scheduled away trip to Plymouth. Edwards has been out since early October so his return will be welcomed by Des Buckingham, while the postponement was excellent timing for star winger Tyler Goodrham.

His partner gave birth on Saturday to a baby girl, and the winger was able to be there for the arrival of his first-born child. "Thankfully the game got postponed so I could go back and stay with her," the 21-year-old told BBC Radio Oxford.

"Obviously I wanted to play the game and go for more points but some things are bigger than football and it was a relief to get home and check Georgia was alright."

Elsewhere, Louis Sibley, Siriki Dembele and Joseph Bennett remain out for an Oxford team looking to get back on track in the capital.

QPR vs Oxford United Odds

QPR have won two of their last three games and as a result they are priced at 21/20 here, giving them an implied win percentage of 48%. Meanwhile Oxford have only picked up two points on the road to date and are the outsiders at 11/4. A draw can be backed at 23/10 in this one. 

In terms of goals, over 2.5 goals has come in during 44% of Oxford’s matches and is priced at 11/10, while BTTS has been successful in 11 of their 18 matches and is 5/6. Despite only having one goal to his name, QPR youngster Lloyd is the favourite to score first at 13/2. 

QPR to win @ 21/20

Simple one for me to kick us off. I think QPR have finally found some confidence, and although their star players haven’t returned yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if they climb the table fairly quickly. I’ve always retained faith in Cifuentes, and am glad the board have too, as he was dealt a difficult hand in terms of injuries early in the campaign. 

Now he appears to have found some solutions, and some consistency, while there is excitement around the place again. The home team are unbeaten in four games now, while Oxford’s away record is dragging them back into danger. Zero wins, two draws and six losses makes for uncomfortable reading if you are of a yellow persuasion, while they are conceding an average of two goals per away game so far. Home win.