Queens Park Rangers won’t have to venture beyond the capital in their imminent double Gameweek, as they host north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal within the space of four days. While the R’s languish in the lower echelons of the Premier League table – sitting outside the relegation berths by virtue of a superior goal difference – their winning record at Loftus Road renders them far from a Fantasy write-off.
The Prospects
The Hoops’ first test of the week sees them lock horns with an Arsenal side that triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture. With only one win in their last nine outings and a single victory in their previous five home ties, QPR will doubtless be underdogs in this local derby.
That being said, isolating QPR’s record under new boss Chris Ramsey frames them in a different light. The 52-year-old’s debut match in charge as caretaker manager would have resulted in a well-earned point, save for a last-gasp winner from Southampton’s Sadio Mane. Then in the two road ties that followed, Ramsey commandeered QPR to their first away win of the campaign – a 2-0 victory over Sunderland – and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Hull City.
The Gunners’ biggest strength lies in their plethora of creative midfielders and goalscoring forwards – Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud have tallied three and four goals respectively in their last six, while Mesut Ozil has delivered attacking returns in four of the previous five Gameweeks. Nonetheless, Arsenal’s vulnerability at the back was exposed by Monaco in the Champions League and is also evident in their paucity of clean sheets (seven) this term, offering encouragement to QPR’s attack-minded players.
QPR welcome Spurs to White City in the second match-up of their double, pitting Ramsey against the club that employed him for over a decade. Tottenham are a match for anyone on their day – as league leaders Chelsea will attest to – but inconsistency is a problem for Mauricio Pochettino’s outfit. For every head-turning win over one of the big boys (Chelsea, Arsenal), there’s been a humbling defeat to a team lower down the league ladder (West Brom, Crystal Palace). Moreover, as much as the likes of Harry Kane – who’s netted 12 times in his previous 11 outings – poses a real threat to QPR’s rearguard, the hosts will fancy Charlie Austin to cause trouble, too, given that only Leicester City (10) have conceded more big chances than the Lilywhites in their past four matches.
The Likely Lads
As the highest scoring Fantasy Premier League player on QPR’s roster by a clear 34 points this campaign, Charlie Austin (6.3) inevitably stands out as the prime candidate for R’s coverage in the double Gameweek. The 25-year-old hitman has registered six goals in his last nine appearances, equalling the much-vaunted Kane’s tally of 14 for the season, and looks nailed-on for Gameweek 28.
Having started QPR’s last three matches, Matthew Phillips (4.6) is shaping up to be a permanent fixture under Ramsey’s tenure. The Scotland international’s odds of retaining his right wing berth have certainly been enhanced by three assists in the past two Gameweeks. Furthermore, only Chelsea livewire Eden Hazard (11) has fashioned more chances for his teammates than Phillips (10) in the previous three Gameweeks.
Of the five clean sheets that Robert Green (4.5) has recorded this season, four of them have arrived at Loftus Road. Granted, Tottenham and Arsenal have only failed to score in six matches between them to date, yet their ability to fashion a wealth of chances should only strengthen the 35-year-old shot-stoppers’ potential to accrue save points – nine of Green’s last 10 outings have harvested one extra point from saves.
The Cheeky Punt
One goal and six attempts in QPR’s last two matches illustrates Bobby Zamora’s effort to impress his new boss. With many Fantasy enthusiasts rejigging their line-ups in an attempt to accommodate both Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero after the double Gameweek, the 4.1-priced forward could serve as a decent stop gap for those looking to free up cash.
Considering QPR have conceded more goals (45) than any other Premier League outfit this campaign, investing in their defence might seem like a questionable strategy, with Green’s save points looking the safest option. However, priced at 3.9, Suk-Young Yun represents a small outlay for a left-back that’s started the London club’s last two fixtures. On the off-chance of a clean sheet, Yun might tempt some managers with space for a budget defender in their ranks.
