Preston vs. Queens Park Rangers Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 18 April 2025 - bettingexpert

As we approach round 43 of the Championship season, Preston host Queens Park Rangers at Deepdale. This match sees 15th-place QPR, boasting 50 points, take on Preston, who sit just one spot below with 49 points.

Both teams carry mixed form into this clash. Preston haven’t seen a win in their last five games, racking up three defeats and two draws. Meanwhile, QPR have shown stability, remaining unbeaten in their last three matches, including an impressive 3-1 upset over Manchester United.

Given Preston’s vulnerability at home and QPR’s decent scoring record, betting tips suggest considering a QPR +0.50 Asian Handicap. With QPR conceding most goals between 46-60 minutes and scoring heavily between 61-75 minutes, expect some tactical intrigue late in the match.

Don’t miss the action at 15:00 on 18 April – it’s more crucial than it looks!

Preston vs Queens Park Rangers Prediction & Betting tip

Recommending our betting tip for this match: QPR +0.50 Asian Handicap. This bet means if QPR either wins or draws, you’ll win the bet. It’s suggested based on the match tips and facts, including the form and key statistics of both teams.

• QPR is stable and unbeaten in their last three matches, while Preston haven’t won in their last five games.
• Preston’s recent home fixtures often see over 1.5 goals.
• QPR has a decent scoring record, averaging 1.33 goals per match.

Given Preston’s vulnerability at home and QPR’s stable form, this bet is a smart choice.

Preston vs Queens Park Rangers Odds

Let’s take a look at the odds for this Championship clash at Deepdale:

Preston enters this match as the bookmakers’ favourites, but not by a wide margin. Both teams are closely matched in the standings, with Preston 16th and QPR 15th. Given their similar form and close competition, this game could go either way.
Preston has a slight edge in their odds, but don’t count out QPR who remain unbeaten in their last three matches.

Preston Team Analysis

Preston Recent Performance

Recent Form: L-D-L-D-L

Preston’s recent form has been underwhelming, to say the least. They have managed just two draws in their last five matches, with three losses weighing heavily on their current morale.

In these five games, Preston averaged 0.80 goals per match and failed to keep a clean sheet, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. Their inability to secure a victory lately places added pressure on Coach Paul Heckingbottom and his squad to turn things around quickly.

Preston Key Players

Preston’s hopes rest heavily on their top scorer, Emil Riis Jakobsen, who has netted 10 goals this season. His ability to find the back of the net will be crucial for a team struggling to score consistently.
Another key figure is Ben Whiteman, who will be orchestrating the midfield and looking to link play between the defense and attack. His passing and vision are integral to Preston’s game plan.
Expect Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes to have their hands full dealing with QPR’s forward line, including Michael Frey, who has been in decent form.

Expected lineup for Preston:

• Goalkeeper: David Cornell
• Defenders: Jordan Storey, Lewis Gibson, Andrew Hughes
• Midfielders: Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Stefan Thordarson, Ben Whiteman, Robert Brady, Jayden Meghoma
• Attackers: Milutin Osmajic, Mads Frøkjær-Jensen

Preston Suspensions & Injuries

Preston North End will have to navigate their upcoming fixture with a handful of injuries to key players, which could significantly impact their performance.

Jack Whatmough, Alistair McCann, and Brad Potts are all expected to return in late April 2025, but their absence could be felt in this match. The long-term loss of key goalkeeper Freddie Woodman due to an ankle injury might leave a noticeable gap in Preston’s defence.

The impact of these absences cannot be understated, especially with Preston struggling to keep clean sheets in recent games.

Preston Tactics and Formation

Preston Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-5-2
• Key Forward: Emil Riis Jakobsen
• Midfield Core: Stefan Thordarson, Ben Whiteman
• Defensive Outlook: No clean sheets in the last five games
• Notable Strategy: Scoring most goals in the 76-90-minute interval

Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston side typically lines up in a 3-5-2 formation. The attacking responsibilities mainly revolve around Emil Riis Jakobsen, the club’s leading scorer with 10 goals. The midfield is bolstered by the double pivot of Stefan Thordarson and Ben Whiteman, who are integral in both defensive duties and transitioning play forward.

Defensively, the back three of Storey, Gibson, and Hughes have struggled to keep clean sheets recently, so they will need to tighten up to fend off QPR’s attacks. Preston often finds the back of the net late in matches, with their most prolific scoring period being the final 15 minutes. The wing-backs, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Jayden Meghoma, are essential for both defending wide areas and contributing to attacks.

Queens Park Rangers Team Analysis

Queens Park Rangers Recent Performance

Queens Park Rangers have demonstrated a decent run of form recently, with 2 draws, 2 wins, and 1 loss in their last 5 matches. They’re undefeated in their last three games, showing a level of stability that could give them confidence heading into this match against Preston.

• QPR have scored an average of 1.40 goals in their last 5 games.
• Clean Sheets: They have managed 1 clean sheet in those 5 matches.

While QPR have had mixed results, their recent games show resilience and an improving trend in their form as they contest for points crucial to their mid-table position.

Queens Park Rangers Key Players

Expected lineup for Queens Park Rangers:

• Goalkeeper: Paul Nardi
• Defenders: Jimmy Dunne, Ronnie Edwards, Liam Morrison, Harrison Ashby
• Midfielders: Jonathan Varane, Jack Colback, Min-hyeok Yang, Nicolas Madsen, Koki Saito
• Forwards: Karamoko Dembele

Key Players to watch:

• Michael Frey: QPR’s top scorer with 7 goals this season. He will be a crucial element in their attacking play.
• Karamoko Dembele: Starting as a centre-forward, he will look to exploit Preston’s vulnerable defence, which hasn’t kept a clean sheet in their last five matches.
• Jack Colback: His experience in the midfield will be key in breaking up Preston’s attacks and controlling the tempo of the game.

Individual Battles:

• Michael Frey vs David Cornell: This will be crucial as Frey aims to add to his goal tally against a shaky Preston defence.
• Karamoko Dembele vs Andrew Hughes: Dembele’s speed and skill will be a tough test for Hughes in Preston’s backline.

Queens Park Rangers Suspensions & Injuries

Queens Park Rangers currently have several key players out with injuries, which could impact their performance and depth:

These injuries, especially those to impactful players like Ilias Chair and Žan Celar, might force coach Martí Cifuentes to make tactical adjustments and rely on bench strength. The lack of depth could be tested, particularly in the midfield and attacking areas.

Queens Park Rangers Tactics and Formation

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Karamoko Dembele
• Midfield Trio: Jonathan Varane, Jack Colback, Nicolas Madsen
• Defensive Setup: Jimmy Dunne, Ronnie Edwards, Liam Morrison, Harrison Ashby
• Goalkeeper: Paul Nardi

Queens Park Rangers, under coach Martí Cifuentes, have consistently fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation in recent matches. This setup allows them to maintain solidity at the back with two defensive midfielders providing cover while also supporting their attacking efforts.

Their defensive line has been crucial, with defenders like Jimmy Dunne and Ronnie Edwards providing reliability, though they have conceded the most goals between the 46-60 minute interval this season.

In attack, Karamoko Dembele leads the line and is supported by wingers Min-Hyeok Yang and Koki Saito. The playmaking duties fall to Nicolas Madsen, who operates centrally. With key players like Ilias Chair out, the reliance on this formation’s depth and versatility will be critical.

Preston vs Queens Park Rangers Head-to-Head Statistics

In recent meetings, Queens Park Rangers have had the upper hand, winning four out of the last five encounters.
Preston will be keen to turn the tide and use their home advantage to secure a much-needed victory.

Odds accurate as of 16/04/2025 15:02, and are subject to change.
Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.