Championship Play-Off Final – Betting Preview
The richest game in football takes centre stage in England this weekend, with the prize of Premier League football on offer.
Sportingly Better picks out the best English football predictions as Derby County play QPR in the 2014 Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley.
Football Predictions
Derby (2.40) v QPR (3.30); Draw (3.30)
Derby County will be hoping to carry their form into Saturday’s play-off final, with the Rams looking to cap an impressive end to their current campaign.
The East Midlands side could name an unchanged side that dispatched Brighton 6-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, with midfielder Craig Bryson likely to feature in midfield.
Derby Probable XI
Grant, Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Thorne, Bryson, Ward, Martin, Russell
Since Steve McClaren took over at Derby, only Championship winners Leicester (25) have won more league games across any of the top four tiers with the Rams having finished five points and 24 goals better off than Harry Redknapp’s men.
Of course that superior record over the course of a season could inevitably count for nothing in Saturday’s 90-minute showpiece.
Former Norwich striker Chris Martin will be QPR’s main danger after scoring in both legs of the semi-final; taking his tally to six goals in his last seven appearances for Derby.
Opponents QPR needed extra time to squeeze past Uwe Rosler’s Latics during the semi-finals, but the R’s are now five games unbeaten in the Championship after seeing their early charge for the Championship title unravel this year.
QPR will again look to striker Charlie Austin who has scored five goals in his last five games for QPR, whilst both Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Niko Kranjcar look to have both overcome their injury problems.
QPR Probable XI
Green, Simpson, Hill, Dunne, Assou-Ekotto, O’Neill, Barton, Hoilett, Morrison, Kranjcar, Austin
On paper Harry Redknapp’s side boast an almost sickening gluttony of top-flight experience, with the 15 players selected during the semi-finals having featured in over 2000 Premier League.
The R’s are bidding to be the first team since Charlton Athletic in 1998 to finish fourth in the Championship and gain promotion through the play-offs and the extravagantly assembled side could hold the advantage in Saturday’s play-off final at Wembley.
Recommended Football Tips
Charlie Austin to score anytime @2.60
Over 2.5 goals @2.25
Author Credit: Jonathan Day
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/people/37972999@N07