QPR vs Swansea Prediction: Wolf at the door for Swansea

Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to keep the pressure on Bournemouth and Blackburn as they are just two points behind those sides who sit in second and third. QPR have a game in hand though which takes place on Tuesday evening and sees them welcome Swansea to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Mark Warburton’s men are absolutely flying at the moment having won their last five in all competitions. The R’s latest victory came at the weekend away at Coventry where a late Albert Adomah header ensured they headed back to the capital with the three points. As the underlying data indicates though, QPR were a tad fortunate with only 0.35 xG separating the two teams. Nevertheless, it is a mark of a great side to pick up points when failing to fire on all cylinders and even though they may have relied on Chris Willock’s individual brilliance at the Ricoh Arena, there is no denying that a points per game average of 1.80 is the stuff of automatic promotion hopefuls.

With Ilias Chair representing his nation in AFCON, it is a good job Warburton also has the aforementioned Willock at his disposal. With eight goals and assists in his last ten league starts, Willock is the second tier's inform player at the minute. He had a direct hand in both QPR’s goals at the weekend as well making it four +A’s in his last three domestic appearances! Barring any late catastrophe, he will start in the free role here, behind Lyndon Dykes and Andre Gray after the latter scored his sixth goal of the season at the weekend.

The acquisition of Hannes Wolf on loan is very intriguing. Of Austrian descent, after registering a combined total of 30 goals and assists for RB Salzburg in two seasons, RB Leipzig, then Borussia Monchengladbach spent over £20 million on securing his services. He only made five appearances for the former and his career continued to stall during his time at the Foals, however, his ability is indisputable so it is just a matter of whether or not he can rediscover his form in South Wales.

With 21 goals in just over 125 career appearances, Wolf boasts a goals per 90 average of 0.29 which makes Betfair’s price of 9/2 a touch long. Personally, I was expecting him to be around 3/1, as is the case with Bet365 and William Hill.

It is worth noting that he is yet to score this season and that his last goal came all the way back in April. However, this season, he averaged 2.38 shots per game in Germany and registered two shots- one hitting the target- in his 45 minute cameo vs Preston.

The price represents value, he looks eager to impress and he certainly has pedigree, my main concern with this pick is whether or not he will get the nod from the off. With Patterson sulking, the door is ajar for a creating attacking midfielder to fill the void left in one of the duel number ten slots.

When doing a bit of digging on Wolf, his defensive data was a bit unusual.

Despite only completing 303 minutes in the Bundesliga, he has picked up two cards- both in substitute appearances- completed 23 tackles and committed ten fouls, that is 6.7 tackles and 2.9 fouls per 90! Staggeringly, he completed 11 tackles in 72 minutes vs Bayern Munich, attempting 16 in total.

He is not notorious for ill-discipline but given his astronomical defensive output, I think he may rack up the fouls, and subsequently cards, as he adapts to the pace and physicality of the division.

Best of luck if you are backing any of these selections and please remember to gamble responsibly.