The lads are back to preview a weekend of rain affected sporting action that includes QPR’s eagerly anticipated trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

A blank week reduces Brian’s profit to £151.60 but he should still finish the season in the black, Andy needs a miracle to finish anything other than deep in the mire although he did win £33.33 on a both teams to score bet last weekend which means he’s now only down £252.82.

Brian Power

It has been a barren few weeks on the winner’s front and it is getting tougher as the football form book gets torn up and thrown out of the window. The same with the racing as the rain has come in abundance and watching some of the racing over the past week I thought jockeys would require oars instead of whips.

We travel to the hovel on Sunday and I think it will be a low scoring contest and the last four games have ended up in 1-0 results and it could well be the same. I am going to have a £12.50 on under 1.5 goals at 7/2 and will have a £5 on Mackie at 16/1 to score first.

If you want to go for the Anton effect it is 80/1 on him to score first and 33/1 to score at anytime and football throws up these little things so will have £2.50 on him to score at anytime.

There are a couple of other derby games this weekend with the dead rubber that is Celtic/Rangers that is sure to keep the Scottish FA busy with a Neil Lennon charge and the complete opposite in the Manchester derby. United travel to City having let them back into the title race over the past 10 days but I expect them to get at least a draw to keep matters in their own hands. Wayne Rooney is on fire and the 7/1 on him to score first should be taken.

The Championship concludes this Saturday with 12.30 kick offs so don’t get caught out and place your bets early doors. Southampton seem to have an easy game against Coventry and should win to leave West Ham and Big Sam to struggle through the play offs. The final play off spot is between Cardiff and Middlesbrough and we are all hoping Cardiff blow it again, they need a point against Palace as they have a 12 goal cushion over Boro and I think they will settle for the draw. I fancy Boro to win at Watford and Derby to beat Peterborough.

The Bet365 Gold Cup takes place at Sandown weather permitting. Rare Bob was a faller early in the National and if he has recovered and recapture his form the 20/1 is a decent price.

For the weekend:

Chelsea v QPR

£5 Mackie 16/1

£2.50 Ferdinand 33/1 anytime

£10 Under 1.5 goals 7/2

£1.50 trebles and a £1.50 acca

Southampton 1/3

Palace/Cardiff draw 12/5

Middlesborough 6/4

Derby Evens

£1.50 trebles and a £1.50 acca

WBA 5/4

Newcastle 6/4

Sheff Wed 11/10

Notts Co 7/5

£5 e/w Bet365 Gold Cup Sandown

Rare Bob 20/1

£7.50 first scorer Man City v Man United

Rooney 7/1

Previously advised:

World Snooker £5 e/w

Stephen maguire 14/1 ( 1/2 odds place 1-2)

The Pro

Professional odds compiler Owen Goulding tells LFW…

After what was a very disappointing night on Tuesday for the QPR faithful, Rangers travel to Champions League finalists Chelsea in a game where any points gained will be very gratefully received. Prior to Bolton's win at Villa on Tuesday, this game probably had less significance, with Stoke looking like an all or nothing encounter. However, the three points picked up by Bolton means Rangers need for something from this fixture certainly seem more important.

QPR have been dreadful away from home - they have the worst away points haul in the League picking up just 11 (and ten of those were gained whilst Warnock was in charge), and it’s hard to see that stat changing with trips to Stamford Bridge and Eastlands to come. As a compiler, this isn't a massive surprise. Mark Hughes teams have always performed well at home, but his insistence on playing for draws away from home has backfired at previous clubs and is backfiring spectacularly this season. His away record as a manager since leaving Blackburn makes very poor reading. He presided over a total of four Premier league away wins during his year and a half in charge of Man City and, despite leading Fulham into Europe, during his year there he only managed three away wins the entire season. It is clear to see watching QPR away from home that we seem to play with a fear of losing. Now is not the time for that fear to be an issue.

A lot is being said of how Chelsea will react after such a monumental effort from them on Tuesday. However, although concentration levels were high amongst the Chelsea team in Barcelona, I don't buy into the theory they will be physically drained. If anything, they exerted less physical effort than they do usually. It was a case of lining nine men up and very little movement. The injuries are, however, a cause for concern for them. The glimmer of light is the Chelsea injury list. Without Luiz, Ivanovic, Cahill etc there are points to be gained here. Chelsea may well have one eye on the Newcastle game on Wednesday also so I for one think QPR look a big price here. It may be a lot to ask QPR to go there and win, and Hughes managerial record away from home is not filling me with confidence, but with a possible 'after the Lord Mayors Show' and a strong QPR side - with either Cisse or Traore likely to come in for Taarabt - the 6/1 QPR Draw no Bet (money back if it;s a draw) seems a reasonable wager. If Cahill misses out also, I will be having a small wager on Clint Hill to score at anytime at 20/1 with William Hill. I just pray that our set-pieces don’t revert to the pathetic efforts they were prior to Taarabt taking responsibility.

Bet of the weekend - QPR Draw No Bet @6/1 Stan James, also if Cahill misses out, Clint Hill To Score Anytime- 20/1 Will Hill or Skybet.

Photo: Action Images

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