Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
The convincing victory over Plymouth in the first round turned out to be misleading, and Sheffield Wednesday have since suffered two heavy defeats. Now, they need to prove their strength against a solid Queens Park Rangers side.
Sheffield Wednesday
For the neutral fan, matches involving Sheffield Wednesday are interesting to watch due to the high number of goals scored. Unfortunately, most of these goals have been conceded. Including League Cup matches, only one out of their six games has had a total under 2.5. At home, they play slightly better: a 4:0 win over Plymouth, who are currently in 22nd place, and a 2:0 loss to Leeds. However, the Championship favourites created just 1.19 xG and three clear chances, two of which were converted into goals. Against Queens Park Rangers, the team will have chances to score.
Queens Park Rangers
In each of their four games this new season, Queens Park Rangers have found the net. This hasn't always resulted in victory, but they managed to withstand one of the favourites, Sheffield United (2:2), and defeated the previously strong Premier League contender, Luton Town (2:1). So far, Queens Park Rangers have picked up four of their five points away from home and scored four of their six goals. Scoring against Sheffield Wednesday’s less reliable defence should be easier.
Sheffield Wednesday — Queens Park Rangers Prediction
Sheffield Wednesday’s unbalanced defence and Queens Park Rangers’ ability to score away from home suggest a high-scoring match. Bookmakers might not agree with us, but if you win, you'll double your money—and that's always pleasant.
