Queens Park Rangers have had quite a few absentees recently, but they are still within reach of the play-off places – they are four points away from them. Charlton Athletic, by contrast, are within striking distance of the relegation zone – three points away.
Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic are 18th on merit, because they are near the bottom not only in the away standings (20th) but also in the home standings (19th). Their form in January has been erratic. At one moment they keep a clean sheet against Sheffield United (1:0), the next they collapse against Millwall (0:4).
Even so, they were fortunate against Sheffield United to gain a two-man advantage. Without the sending-off, it would have been almost impossible for them to win and keep a clean sheet. The away win in the previous round over Leicester City (2:0) was also helped by an early red card for the opponents and Jordan Ayew hitting the woodwork from the penalty spot.
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers’ results look more deserved. To start with, they have gone two away matches without defeat or conceding a goal – 0:0 against Stoke City and Oxford United.
You may say that Oxford United are second from bottom, but Charlton Athletic are hardly high in the standings either. Fine, here is another example: at home Queens Park Rangers stopped Coventry City (2:1). Yes, the league leaders are not in their best form right now, but that does not matter to them, especially as it was a hard-fought victory.
Charlton Athletic vs Queens Park Rangers Prediction
In the first half of the season, Queens Park Rangers secured a 3:1 victory thanks to a surge in the final quarter of the match, scoring in the 84th and 97th minutes, even though Charlton Athletic at times dominated at Loftus Road. Bookmakers see this match as one with three possible outcomes, but everything mentioned above points us towards the Double Chance on the visitors.
