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Mixed martial arts Birmingham vs QPR Bet Builder Tips: Stansfield Amongst The Action?
Birmingham vs QPR: Bet Builder Tips and Player Props
Friday night sees Birmingham vs QPR bet builder tips at St Andrews in the Sky Bet Championship. Both clubs were looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone at some point last season, and John Eustace and Gareth Ainsworth will be keen to ensure that is not the case this year.
While the Blues have started strongly around the early chase for playoff spots, QPR currently occupy 19th, keen for a win for a bit of early breathing space.
Bet Builder odds: 6.00
English Championship Friday 22nd September 20:00 (UK)
Odds via bet365 as at 23:00, Tuesday 19th September 2023. Odds may now differ.
Birmingham vs QPR Stats: Possession is nine tenths of the law
- QPR are yet to record the most possession in a game this season- only recording over 40% once.
- Birmingham have scored in seven out of games in all competitions this season.
- QPR were the third lowest scorers with the second worst defence last season.
- Under 2.5 goals has landed in six of the last eight games between these two sides.
- Birmingham did the double over QPR last season without conceding.
Birmingham vs QPR Bet Builder Tips: QPR to leave with the blues
Birmingham Win
Birmingham had a strong summer window, making a lot of promising signings. Lee Buchanan and Koji Miyoshi were signed from abroad, while an abundance of players plying their trade in England, such as Siriki Dembele, Ethan Laird, and Krystian Bielik, were acquired. John Eustace also utilised the loan market well, borrowing Oliver Burke, Jay Stansfield, and Cody Drameh.
The Blues now have a young, hungry, well-balanced squad managed by a talented, tactically astute coach. The groundwork laid by Eustace and his recruitment is evident to see, with Birmingham looking significantly better than they showed last season and now sitting in 7th place.
Birmingham have played three home games so far this season, winning two and drawing one, ranking them fifth in the league for this, with four of the teams above them for home performance playing an extra game.
After a stellar start to last season, QPR ended the season in free fall, looking likely relegation candidates. However, a couple of late-season wins saw the R’s finish 20th, six points clear of relegated sides Reading and Blackpool.
Gareth Ainsworth has come in for a lot of criticism for his performances as QPR manager, with fans growing discontent at his negative, unattractive style of football. However, the board stuck by their guns and kept the 50-year-old in charge. Whether this is the correct decision remains to be seen, with QPR sitting on September 19.
Birmingham’s home form, coupled with QPR’s lack of ambition to win games, means I have to side with the Blues on Friday night.
Jay Stansfield to Score Anytime
Fulham striker Jay Stansfield caught the eye of many while on loan at Exeter last season. The 20-year-old registered nine goals and seven goals while playing for the club where his late father, Adam, is so fondly remembered. Stansfield not only impressed with his 16-goal contributions, but it was also his hard work and willingness to do the dirty work that caught the eye. The youngster picked up nine yellow cards, an indictment of his mean streak, too.
His form impressed John Eustace, who wanted to take the 2002-born striker on a season-long loan. It took just 30 minutes in a Birmingham shirt for Stansfield to make an impression on his new fanbase, scoring a 95th-minute winner off the bench at home to Plymouth. He then followed this up in the next league game, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Millwall. His latest goal came in the 2-1 defeat at Preston, meaning Stansfield now has three goals in just four league starts.
Stansfield has also shown he is not afraid to shoot, averaging over four shots per 90. With Q.P.R. expected to sit deep from the off, Stansfield should get plenty of chances to shoot and add to his goal tally.
Under 4.5 Goals
The final leg of the bet builder is a boring one, but one that has landed in every game for both sides this season. Birmingham’s games this season have averaged a meagre 2.14 goals per game, with the Blues scoring eight and conceding seven. Only two of their seven league games have seen over 2.5 goals—the 2-1 defeat at Preston and the 2-1 home win over Plymouth. Birmingham games last season were also low-scoring, averaging 2.28 goals per game.
QPR games have averaged 2.71 goals per game, with over 2.5 goals landing four out of seven times. However, their highest-scoring game was the opening day 4-0 defeat to Watford.
In terms of xG, Birmingham games are only averaging 2.15 combined, while QPR are averaging 2.42. With both teams games low for xG, taking under five goals, which have landed in every game for both sides this season, is a ‘safe’ bet to boost the odds of the bet builder.
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