Kick-off: 1715, 26/12/2022
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
QPR returned to form last time out and have a great record against Cardiff, so they look a value bet as slight underdogs here.
Rangers beat the Bluebirds 3-0 on home turf in October to make it five wins from six head-to-head meetings, including two straight victories when visiting Wales.
We reckon 15/8 for an away win is too tempting to turn down with our first Cardiff vs QPR prediction.
Cardiff City Odds
Cardiff are just two points above the Championship drop zone after going four games without a win.
Kion Etete scored his first goal for the club to give City a half-time lead versus Blackpool at this venue.
However, striker Gary Madine, who failed to find the net in 28 games for the Bluebirds across three seasons, returned to haunt his former club with a 67th-minute equaliser.
Cardiff squandered a series of chances to put themselves out of sight from their fellow strugglers.
Forward Callum Robinson and midfielders Ryan Wintle and Gavin Whyte were all guilty of wasting opportunities.
Manager Mark Hudson was also aggrieved that Robinson was booked for diving instead of being awarded a penalty after he went down under a challenge from Blackpool goalkeeper Danny Grimshaw.
“We could have taken the game away from them and been comfortable,” said Hudson. “We have to know the importance of putting the ball in the net with the chances we are creating.
“It’s about sticking together, everyone from top to bottom. We are competitive and must concentrate on being ruthless. There is definitely some disappointment in this.”
City had lost their previous three home matches and there is a clear sense of anxiety creeping in.
Looking at the Cardiff vs QPR odds, we feel the Hoops can capitalise on that and win by one goal at 10/3.
Queens Park Rangers Odds
QPR were challenging at the top of the table until picking up just one point in six outings before and after Michael Beale’s departure.
However, they stopped the rot with a 1-0 victory at Preston which saw them climb back above North End into sixth spot.
Jimmy Dunne’s second-half strike proved decisive at Deepdale and new boss Neil Critchley hailed his players’ rapid adaptation to a fresh front-foot philosophy.
The 44-year-old said: “I could not have asked for more from the players. I can see that they’re a good, honest group to work with.
“I said to the players that we’re not coming here to take a point – we’re coming here to win.
“We’re not going to be on the back foot, we’re not going to be everyone behind the ball and see if we could nick the game on the break, we’re going to try and take the game to them and we did that.”
That was a fifth away win of the season for Rangers and four of those have been by the narrowest of margins.
Let’s finish off our Cardiff vs QPR betting tips by taking 19/2 for the visitors to prevail 2-1.
Additional stats
Last result:
CARDIFF 1-1 Blackpool – Kion Etete
Preston 0-1 QPR – Jimmy Dunne
Head-to-head: QPR 3-0 Cardiff, QPR 1-2 Cardiff, Cardiff 0-1 QPR, Cardiff 0-1 QPR, QPR 3-2 Cardiff
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