QPR took their place in the history books last weekend as their 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic extended their winless streak to 16 games and made their start the worst by any club in the 21-year history of the Premier League.
Among all the doom and gloom that surrounds Loftus Road right now, there are at last some signs of gentle improvement with three draws in Harry Redknapp’s opening three games in charge at the very least a step in the right direction.
Unfortunately for the Hoops, they are still eight points adrift of safety and unless they quickly put together a series of wins, they will only see that gap widen over the busy Christmas run of fixtures.
So it is to the visit of Fulham on Saturday afternoon that Rangers will look to record their opening victory of the season and for once, it may be worthwhile putting some money on them to do just that.
At 7/5, QPR are favourites with bwin to claim three points, with Fulham at 9/5 and the draw seen as a long shot at 12/5 in the 3-way betting market.
The favourites tag in itself is not really justification for seriously thinking that Redknapp’s side might break their hoodoo, but Fulham’s away record is.
Martin Jol’s men, who are currently lying in 13th position, a whopping 13 points above QPR, have only managed one win away from home this season, having notched just four successes on the road last term.
The omens for QPR would have looked even better still had Fulham not ended their seven-game winless run on Monday night with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United.
Despite their return to winning ways, the troubles that the Cottagers endured throughout November demonstrate that with the fifth-best attacking record in the league they have great firepower offensively, but they are definitely vulnerable defensively.
Goals are what QPR will need to gain that first win and there should be plenty at Loftus Road as between them, Fulham and their London rivals have played in 13 games containing over 3.5 goals in this campaign already and bwin is offering 11/5 on the same scenario.
There are also strong odds of 11/10 to be found on Fulham taking the lead, something that the visiting side at Loftus Road have managed on five out of seven occasions this term, but the 7/5 about QPR finally notching that elusive victory at the 17th time of asking is the way I will be playing this one.
