Both teams we were interested in won, but that is not really of importance for now. At clubgowi we were happy to bet Derby at the pre match odds, for City, we wanted a little higher and the team news and stats, with Stoke at their strongest and QPR their most vulnerable on the road through the middle third of the game, indicated that we were likely to get them by waiting and , as I have taking to repeating a lot recently, no one ever backed a loser, by waiting !
 

Premier League : Stoke City- QPR

 

I am quite keen on City here, but would like to wait for a better quote. The hosts are tough to beat at the Britannia, feel aggrieved by dropping two points in the reverse fixture and boss Mark Hughes will not lack for motivation, still feeling he was unjustly sacked two years ago by the visitors . Rangers are very poor on the road and have lost all ten away starts this season, that has to end some time of course, but probably not today. City have scored 58% of home goals through the middle third of games ( 31st-60th minute) and might need a little time to build up a head of steam today after losing Bojan Krkic for the rest of the season to injury. QPR are sure to start very defensively and have conceded 50% of all away goals through this same 30 minute period. I will wait for the currently line ( -1 ball  2.21) to drop a quarter ball and will be looking to bet 1.25 units Stoke City -0.75 ball @ 2.20 as long as they are not already leading and we are playing 11 v 11.

 

Championship: Cardiff City- Derby County

 

I have seen both play at Griffin Park this season, both lost, but County were on a completely different level and I told you at the time that Rovers supporters did not feel they were playing as well as results suggested and that has been borne out since and they have fallen significantly off the playoff pace. They also made it through to R5 of the FA Cup at the weekend, beating Swansea City 3-1, the game was in the balance until late, despite the Swans playing almost the entire game with ten men, they got a home tie with Stoke City as reward, but for now, it will be all about trying to get back into the hunt for a top 6 place. That looks beyond them on what I have seen and read, but they will give it a go and that will probably mean looking for three points this evening and perhaps showing more attacking intent than many teams do at the IPro Stadium. Both teams picked up knocks on Saturday, but the greater options lie with County, who have already beaten Rovers, winning the reverse fixture 3-2, the Rams were coasting there 3-1 up after conceding in the first minute, they totally dominated the first hour after that and then needlessly put themselves under some late pressure, but I feel they could win a little more comfortably this evening.
 

They won 2-0 with new striker Darren Bent (pictured) scoring both goals, now with Bent and Chris Martin upfront, they have two proven strikers with almost 300 goals between them. Bent is an ace poacher and he has 24 goals and 16 assists in 52 appearances in the Championship, a contribution every 109 minutes. That could be just what they need to get them over the line and boss Steve McClaren is still hoping to get one more signing in before the transfer window closes on Monday. This is a good opportunity against a team in transition and who have already lost at home to Watford, Brentford, Bournemouth and Norwich, four fellow promotion candidates who all scored three or more goals. Home boss Russell Slade has been ordered to cut the wage bill and been allowing some of the bigger wage earners to leave, bringing players in who are not really of true upper level Championship quality and this is a club who look set to go backwards, before they can move forward again. They have now also lost central defender Ben Turner for the rest of this season and they have conceded seven goals in the last two starts he has missed. The home crowd urges City forward here and County are ideally suited to playing on the break and have the quality to win this with a degree of comfort, like the four previously named big winners here, all of whom are quick to turn defence into attack.