QPR v Man City

Top of the league with 28 points from a possible 30, this does not look like the match where Man City will begin to unravel. QPR may have beaten Chelsea recently, but in truth, the manner in which they laboured against nine men for an hour didn’t make you think that big scalps will be claimed very often at Loftus Road.

That said, we have grown all too accustomed to Mancini’s pace-setters brushing aside most teams with almost alarming ease. A goal difference of +28 from 10 matches is even more impressive than the points tally; it simply can’t go on like that. City are good, but they aren’t nearly three goals better than everybody else in the division.

This may be a day for the league leaders to show that they can grind out a hard-fought victory when they need to. There are a few reasons why this one could be closer than you might at first think. The team news; captain Vincent Kompany is suspended following his sending off against Wolves and the defence is not used to coping without him. His likely replacement, Stefan Savic is a young Montenegrin who hasn’t started a Premier League game yet.

Then there is the possible absence of David Silva. The frontrunner for PFA Player of the Year picked up a back injury in midweek and could miss out. City are still getting familiarised with the routine of playing important Champions League games on the continent, before returning for tricky away fixtures at the weekend. They may have to do so this time without their best defender and midfielder.

QPR also deserve some consideration. Yes they were fortunate against Chelsea, but they continue to have spells in most games where they look very dangerous. That was the case again at White Hart Lane last week when Warnock’s side, having looked down and out, suddenly threatened an equaliser after Jay Bothroyd had pegged one back.

I think a good scoreline prediction for this game would be 2-1 Man City at best odds of 8/1 with Ladbrokes. The striking triumvirate of Dzeko, Balotelli and Aguero always come up with something between them, and overall the visitors should be too strong. But QPR have their moments, and without Kompany at the heart of the City defence, I think they can score and make this one close.