Watford vs QPR Prediction: Slow starts point to a stalemate at Vicarage Road

Watford look to stop a slow start to the season from becoming a terrible one as they welcome Queens Park Rangers to Vicarage Road. The Championship clash takes place on Saturday, August 16 (15:00). The Hornets lost 2-1 to Norwich City at Carrow Road in the EFL Cup in midweek. The cup knockout came on the heels of a 1-0 opening day defeat at Charlton Athletic. New man Paulo Pezzolano will be keenly aware that Watford head coaches do not usually get to survive a bad run. 

QPR make the short trip to Hertfordshire also searching for a maiden win of the campaign. They failed to make possession count at home to Preston in a 1-1 draw. Then Julien Stephan’s side tossed away a two-goal lead against Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup to lose 3-2. Lots to prove here, read on for my Watford vs QPR predictions.

Team News

Creative midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze is a big miss with a persistent foot issue. Watford are targeting his return for after the September international break at the earliest.

Chelsea loanee Caleb Wiley and new signing Othmane Maamma are doubts. While those two could make an appearance, Mattie Pollock, Pierre Dwomoh and Rocco Vata will miss out.

Football Odds

QPR had Kwame Poku and Karamoko Dembele pull up injured during the Preston game. The wide players are not expected back for another month. The defence is the other major area of concern, with ex-Chelsea loan army member Jake Clarke-Salter and Republic of Ireland international Jimmy Dunne both nursing hip injuries.

The Rs have just landed prolific striker Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers. The 22-year-old’s 18 league goals helped fire his side into the League 1 play-offs. While Wycombe failed to clinch promotion, Kone has now secured a move to the Championship. One to watch.

Draw @ 23/10

A soft start from both amid rather tepid pre-season predictions has me expecting a quiet afternoon in the Hertfordshire sunshine. 

Watford are armed with a new head coach (when aren’t they?) and some clever market movements. Nestory Irankunda’s acquisition from the Bayern Munich set-up looks wise. The 19-year-old winger was tearing it up in men’s football for A-League side Adelaide United at an age where Jeremy Clarkson was getting a C and two Us in his A-levels. 

But the youngster will need time to adjust to his new surroundings and the unique physical and technical demands of this league. Meanwhile, attacking midfield force Chakvetadze is missing, a key ingredient for the way Watford play.

The QPR defence will perhaps be a little easier to test than normal due to injuries. But a well-rested Liam Morrison and Amadou Mbengue, who started the league opener before skipping midweek, should have enough to keep the scores relatively low.

These two sides are yet to hit their stride this season. I do not think this game will provide that moment of clarity for either side.

Half Time/Full Time: Queens Park Rangers/Draw @ 14/1

Something a bit different and with odds a bit longer than I usually attempt. But there is a method to this. So much so that I refuse to call it “my madness”.

QPR have led at half-time in both of their matches so far this season. They let Preston back in three minutes after the break in the league. In their EFL Cup knockout courtesy of Plymouth, the London side conceded another 48th-minute goal. This points to a pattern. 

Plymouth striker Owen Oseni would add the equaliser on 54 minutes, which supports my theory that QPR come out cold after half-time. The momentum seems to abandon them after their mid-game oranges (footballers still eat half an orange during the team talk, right?)

Oseni would add the winner on 78 minutes, which demonstrates further QPR’s struggles in the second half of matches. I think Watford can capitalise on this after a fast start from the away side. I believe QPR will take a lead into the halfway point, before sacrificing it in the second period.

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