Saturday Championship Tips: Steve McLaren showing class at backable QPR

QPR on a run that is hard to ignore

Blackburn 2.42 v QPR 3.20; The Draw 3.40

One team that has made the most of a tight table and a positive change in fortunes is Steve McLaren's Queens Park Rangers. The ink was arguably 90 minutes from being applied to McLaren's P45 after a disastrous start to the season saw QPR lose their first four matches and the fans far from happy.

It is unfortunate that McLaren has become most famous for a bad Dutch accent and an umbrella. He is now proving once again that he knows how to make a football team tick. Loaning in Tomer Hemed and Nahki Wells added bite in attack and the former England boss has shored up a defence that leaked 13 goals in those opening four defeats. QPR have since claimed seven clean sheets in the 11 Championship games - as many as they managed in the entire 2017/18 league season.

QPR are unbeaten in five games, including four wins, meaning that no other side in the division has won more points across the last five matches. But visit Blackburn on Saturday without a win against Rovers in their last 13 encounters in all competitions (L7, D6). That's a run that dates back to October 1999. QPR haven't won at Ewood Park in their last seven visits (D2, L5).

November also seems to suit Blackburn who have lost just one of their last 20 matches in this month across all competitions (W11 D8). Rovers' 1-1 draw away at West Brom last weekend came thanks to a terrific 25-yard strike by Southampton loanee Harrison Reed.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray hailed the "heroic" nature of that draw after his side had to play the final 10 minutes of the game without their sent-off keeper.

Rovers have scored at least one goal in seven of their last eight league matches during which time they have secured three wins. Both Teams To Score (BTTS) has landed in nine of the last 12 Blackburn games

For me, QPR are on a streak that is impossible to ignore. I love the price of 3.20 on QPR to win this match, but there's a goal in Blackburn and therefore a QPR victory and Both Teams To Score at [6.14] screams value.

Baggies to bounce back at the KCOM

Hull 3.45 v West Brom 2.08; The Draw 3.50

West Brom have done us over the last few weeks. After being one of the division's trailblazers their form has dropped off a cliff over the last three games.

When you are hunting for a morale boosting return to form a trip to Hull provides the perfect opportunity. Hull's away win over Bolton last weekend was much needed but cannot mask the inadequacies within the side. West Brom are unbeaten against Hull over the last five meetings.

I'm hanging on in there with West Brom this weekend purely on the basis that if you put both squads side-by-side there's only one choice you'd make. In addition, manager Darren Mooremay have prolific striker Dwight Gayle back in the side and Kieran Gibbs could also make a return.

Hull have been beaten four times in eight Championship games at the KCOM this season and, although their form has improved in recent weeks, I can't see them preventing a fifth home loss. Hull boss Nigel Adkins has faced West Brom five times previously and he's lost all five, all in the Championship between September 2007 and November 2012.

West Brom win on Saturday and I think they will get back to goal scoring form too. And don't be dismayed if they haven't got out of the traps quickly either as The Baggies have scored 24 goals in the second half of Championship matches this season.

It may be their last chance for a while with me, but I'm on WBA to win and Over 2.5 match goals at [3.34].

Canaries the form team in the Championship

Sheffield Wed 3.15 v Norwich 2.38; The Draw 3.35

There are a lot of tough fixtures to call this weekend, but you just can't back againstNorwich City at the moment. The Canaries have won three Championship matches on the bounce, in fact the they have taken 22 of the last 27 points available. They have won more Championship points across the last 10 matches than any other side in the division and risen to 4th place on merit. They cannot be ignored this weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday have however slipped to 15th in the table after losing their last three matches and desperately need to reverse that trend. I don't think the visit of the in form Canaries to Hillsborough on Saturday is going to help the home side.

On show in the match are the two most prolific completed passers in the Championship. Nowrich's Moritz Leitner (855 passes) and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan (787) lead the stats.

Norwich win this one and the price of 2.38 is highly backable.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back QPR to beat Blackburn and BTTS @ [6.14] (best bet)

Back WBA to beat Hull and Over 2.5 match goals at [3.34]

Back Norwich to beat Sheffield Wed @ 2.38