Poor travellers Coventry to slip up in West London

QPR 2.3411/8 v Coventry 3.45; The Draw 3.412/5
Friday, 15:00

QPR sit twelfth in the Championship desk, nevertheless, primarily based solely on their 2021 type, they need to be play-off contenders. Only 4 sides, together with high-flying duo Watford and Norwich, have produced higher outcomes because the flip of the yr. Mark Warburton’s facet are 12 factors shy of the highest six, and though they’ve a sport in hand on the vast majority of the edges straight above them, they may wrestle to break into the play-off image.

However, the West Londoners have been wonderful in current weeks, and have gained three of their final 5 video games heading into the worldwide break. Defender Rob Dickie has praised his facet’s current performances and has credited the January additions with sparking some much-needed enchancment. Although Charlie Austin and the stylish Stefan Johansen will take the vast majority of the headlines, the type of defender Jordy de Wijs has additionally helped the R’s to tighten up on the again. The new arrivals have additionally enabled present gamers to shine, with left-back Lee Wallace having been voted because the membership’s March Player of the Month, following a sequence of constant and dynamic shows.

When it comes to xG, QPR have not notably stood out, nevertheless, they’ve remained pretty constant throughout the final eight matches. They’ve scored seven in their final 5, and have managed to keep away from defeat in 9 of their final 12. The method of their comeback victory in opposition to Millwall on March seventeenth highlighted the terrific character throughout the squad, they usually managed to observe it up with one other creditable show at play-off chasing Reading.

Coventry have gained simply 4 occasions in 2021, and the Sky Blues nonetheless aren’t away from relegation bother. Only 4 sides have netted fewer targets because the flip of the yr than Mark Robins’ males, and it is nearly a month since they final registered. They are an archetypal house/away facet, and are extremely laborious to beat on their very own patch. However, they have been massively disappointing on their travels, and have gained simply as soon as on the highway since mid-December.

They’ve had issues protecting clear sheets away from house, with only one shutout to this point. However, they’ve managed to hold the opposition off the score-sheet ten occasions at St.Andews. Goals have additionally been at a premium lately, with the Warwickshire facet having discovered the online in simply three of their final six appearances. Despite this, the much-anticipated return of Matt Godden ought to assist them enhance their output over the approaching weeks. The 29-year outdated accomplished 90 minutes for the under-23s final week and is probably going to play some half in this fixture.

Notwithstanding Godden’s return, Coventry look set to wrestle on the highway as soon as once more, they usually may fall brief right here. QPR are 2.3411/8 on the Exchange and are price backing to proceed their good run of type.

Bristol City 3.711/4 v Stoke 2.265/4; The Draw 3.3512/5
Friday, 15:00

Nigel Pearson‘s appointment at Ashton Gate has undoubtedly delivered loads of positivity, nevertheless, the skilled supervisor has but to right the Robins’ wayward house type. The hosts have now misplaced six matches in a row at this venue, and have been lately overwhelmed by a relegation-threatened Rotherham facet, whose preparations for the sport had been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions. Their away type has been significantly better, nevertheless, they have been simply second greatest throughout a current journey to Ewood Park.

Bristol City sit 14th in the Championship desk, and with little or no at stake this season, they’re already beginning to make plans for the 2021-22 marketing campaign. Injury issues have largely been answerable for derailing their play-off hopes, and with a fully-fit squad subsequent yr, they are going to be fancied for a tilt on the prime six. The versatile Tommy Rowe is due to return for this fixture, and Tomas Kalas‘ harm is not as unhealthy as first feared. Pearson will likely be compelled right into a change right here, with Callum O’Dowda having picked up a knock, while Nathan Baker and Jamie Paterson will not be match sufficient to function throughout the Easter weekend.

Despite having overwhelmed Birmingham, Swansea and Middlesbrough on their travels since Pearson’s arrival, the Robins have not been rating effectively on the xG charts, producing a median of simply 0.75 throughout the final eight matches. They’ve failed to rating in every of their final two outings, and two of their three targets at St.Andrews have been handed to them on a plate.

Whilst Bristol City have little or no to play for, Friday’s opponents Stoke nonetheless have faint hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs. Michael O’Neill‘s facet are 10 factors shy of sixth positioned Reading and they’re unbeaten in three of their final 4. Their show in opposition to Middlesbrough on March thirteenth was higher than the score-line prompt with the Potters firing in 16 pictures and hitting the woodwork in the second half.

They arrive right here off the again of successive clear sheets, and have managed to hold the opposition off the score-sheet in three of their final 4 outings. There was little or no to say about their current 1-0 victory over near-neighbours Derby, with the hosts managing to prohibit the Rams to half possibilities. The performances of Nick Powell and Rhys Norrington-Davies have been extraordinarily encouraging, while Harry Souttar, James Chester and Danny Batth not often appeared troubled.

Stoke’s away type has been pretty poor this season, nevertheless, they seem to be gathering some momentum at simply the precise time. With Bristol City missing penetration, the Staffordshire facet’s obstinate defence will be the key to enabling the guests to decide up their first away victory since December 2nd. O’Neill’s males will be supported at 2.265/4 on Friday afternoon, and though the 0-0 draw is a chance, it is price backing them to inflict yet one more house defeat on their out-of-sorts hosts.

Cardiff 2.265/4 v Nottingham Forest 3.814/5; The Draw 3.259/4
Friday, 15:00

Cardiff have loved a exceptional upturn in type because the arrival of Mick McCarthy. The affable Yorkshireman has turned the Welsh outfit into real play-off contenders, and with a number of matches in opposition to backside half sides nonetheless to be performed, they’ve each likelihood of ending in the highest six. McCarthy additional endeared himself to the followers by masterminding a 1-0 victory over rivals Swansea prior to the worldwide break, and they are going to be filled with confidence heading into this tie.

Under Neil Harris, they have been struggling to discover the again of web, nevertheless, the previous Republic of Ireland boss has managed to unlock his facet’s attacking potential. He’s additionally improved their defensive solidity, they usually’ve managed to hold 4 clear sheets in their final 5 outings. Although there was a slight dip in xG numbers, they’re nonetheless producing first rate performances, and they need to find a way to hold a shotshy Nottingham Forest facet at arm’s size.

Keiffer Moore was again on the score-sheet for Wales in midweek and the lofty striker will likely be hoping to discover gaps in the customer’s defence on Friday afternoon. He hasn’t scored a Championship objective because the starting of the month, though he supplies a continuing menace in the oppositions half.

Nottingham Forest are seven factors away from the relegation zone, though Chris Hughton’s facet can’t afford to swap off simply but. The Tricky Trees are winless in their final six, though they did decide up a helpful level on the Brentford Community Stadium a fortnight in the past. Forest have not scored greater than a single objective in a sport since February sixth, they usually could wrestle to discover a well past a dogged Cardiff back-line.

They have managed to keep aggressive in current matches, though they nonetheless lack some innovative. Only Preston have produced a decrease xG quantity throughout the final eight video games they usually want to enhance their productiveness over the subsequent couple of weeks.

Both James Garner and Filip Krovinovic have produced higher performances in current weeks, and Forest will likely be counting on the dynamic midfield duo to information them to security this season.

Cardiff will likely be buoyed by their current victory over the Swans, and only a single objective could also be sufficient to win this fixture. They will be backed at 2.265/4 on the Exchange and will find a way to proceed their upward momentum.

You can observe Jack Critchley on Twitter @jcritch7