Monday Night Football - Big Sam's Boys can gain first road win

We usually go for a NFL pick & English football bet as well on a Monday night but we'll be sticking to the Premier League this time as the NFL game between the Chicago Bears & Dallas Cowboys looks like it could be a wild one & we don't want to go near it betting wise! The Premier League game should be interesting as two of the league's lesser lights face off at Loftus Road - we'll have more football bets from European competition & the lower leagues during midweek.

Queens Park Rangers vs West Ham United

QPR currently sit bottom of the Premier League as they prepare to face their third consecutive London derby as they take on Sam Allardyce's West Ham at Loftus Road.

(Anton Ferdinand is out of this one through injury as well as 3 other QPR defenders)

QPR have failed to win any of their five league games so far with three defeats & two draws. It seems that performances haven't gained the points they deserve & this was certainly the case last weekend against Spurs - QPR put in a terrific first half display, capped by a Bobby Zamora goal, & they looked in control until two goals in two minutes turned the game in Spurs favour & they held out for the win. Unfortunately they have four defenders in Anton Ferdinand, Jose Bosingwa, Fabio & Armand Traore ruled out & this is a big concern for a side which has conceded 14 goals in seven matches in all competitions.

West Ham have made a decent start to the season with two wins, two draws & only one defeat in their five league matches, they've picked up seven of their eight points at Upton Park & have struggled on the road with a 3-0 defeat at Swansea & a dire 0-0 vs Norwich. It was the other way around last year in the Championship where they did well in away games but they are yet to score a goal on the road & are reliant on midfield general Kevin Nolan (3 goals so far) finding the net as strikers Ricardo Vaz Te, Modibo Maiga & Carlton Cole just haven't got going in the top flight yet.

(Modibo Maiga has a good chance of getting his first Premier League goal here)

It should be a proper derby match with a little bit of needle between the sides but overall QPR's defensive injuries could prove the critical factor here as West Ham will put an awful lot of pressure on especially at set pieces & the value lies with the Hammers at odds of 11/4. Bearing that set piece threat in mind we reckon one of West Ham's big lads up front could get a goal & we'll side with their 6"2 Malian Modibo Maiga to get his first Premier League goal after scoring a couple of times in the Capital One Cup, he's as big as 100/30 to score anytime.

Selections:
West Ham United to beat Queens Park Rangers at 11/4 (Betfred, Coral & Totesport)
Modibo Maiga to score anytime at 100/30 (BlueSquare & 888Sport)