Top of the table Cardiff are enjoying setting the pace in the Championship this season and after a perfect start they will be hoping to make it five out of five. QPR are the team heading to Cardiff to try and spoil their start and they have had a good start themselves this season.
With two form teams, and one with an unbeaten record to defend, we should be in for a great game this weekend. I don’t expect either of these two teams to stay near the top of the league, but if they continue this good start then they are going to take some stopping, especially Cardiff.
Cardiff Form
It has been a dream start for Cardiff and to be honest, I really didn’t expect it from them at all. I thought they would do ok, but had them down for a mid-table finish at best and really didn’t see them breaking into the top half and challenging for promotion.
They have beaten Burton Albion, Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Wolves so far, with the most recent victory at Wolves being their most impressive performance. They performed well in that game and stood up to what is a very good Wolves side, much to my surprise.
Whether Cardiff can keep ahead this season remains to be seen, I personally don’t think they will but at this stage, with how they have started anything is possible. Even if Cardiff so slip away from the top of the table, they still have a solid foundation to build on and they should be targeting the top half as a minimum.
QPR Form
Queens Park Rangers have won two of their four games so far and just lost one, they are another team who have surprised me this season. Norwich are the only team to have beaten them and they look like being a decent team this year so their form is certainly there.
Wins over Reading and Hull will have given fans hope that they can perform well this season, and I can’t blame them. I do think QPR will eventually drop away from the promotion places but I can see them doing better than I thought they would and finishing mid-table.
The win against Hull recently was their best performance so far and they were very good against a Hull team who shouldn’t be underestimated.
Team News
For now, Cardiff are keeping hold of Kenneth Zohore although it remains to be seen whether or not he stays after the transfer deadline. Him and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have been fantastic so far this season and they have given Cardiff a real goal scoring threat. Should Zohore leave the club he would leave a big hole for someone to fill, he has been very impressive during his time at the club.
QPR came from behind last weekend to beat Hull, coming to life in the second half and putting up a very impressive performance after an average first half. Two substitutes came on and scored for them, so those players will be pushing for a place in the starting eleven this weekend. Matt Smith and Idrissa Sylla were the two scorers and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw one of both of them this weekend.
Top Betting Tips
Cardiff will head into this game looking to make it five wins out of five this season and there is no reason to think they can’t do that. They have been very impressive so far, scoring plenty of goals and keeping things fairly tight in defence.
QPR have had a good start, although overall I don’t believe their team is as good as the one Cardiff have. They are capable of upsetting the odds, but I don’t think they will do that today and I think Cardiff will win the game.
I am going to back Cardiff but the normal win market does not offer much value so I am going to back a correct score in the game. The score I am backing is 2-0 to Cardiff, which is available at 15/2 with William Hill.
After the games have finished on Saturday, I am expecting to see Cardiff remain at the top of the table. I still don’t think they are genuine title contenders, or even promotion contenders, but they are doing a very good job of setting the pace and I am expecting them to win in this one.
I am backing Cardiff to win the game against QPR.