Betting: Norwich City have history on their side against QPR

Rangers boss Mark Hughes has reacted quickly to their 5-0 home defeat by a rampant Swansea, holding talks with Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and Real Madrid centre back, Ricardo Carvalho, either of whom could have signed for the west London outfit by the time we go to print.

The Canaries have been more circumspect when it comes to transfer targets, not as though a lack of action has affected their match odds. Having beaten QPR in three of the last four league meetings, it's Norwich who kick off as bet365's 11/8 favourites, with Rangers priced at 9/4 by Stan James.

It's worth recalling that Norwich failed to win any of their opening five fixtures last term, a run which included a crushing 4-0 Carling Cup defeat by MK Dons, so despite their poor start, William Hill's 3/1 for the Canaries to win when kicking off with a one goal deficit should not be ignored. Yet punters expecting them to be thwarted in their quest for a league victory can get 5/2 (BetVictor.com) against the match ending all square, while Betfred chalks 4/1 about both halves ending in stalemate. In the correct score markets, Skybet post an attractive 6/1 about City recording a 1-1 draw.

Neither side looked particularly adept up front last week (not as though they were allowed to), which suggests that Paddy Power's 21/20 for tomorrow's duel to yield fewer than 2.5 goals is worthy of further consideration. Both teams struggled to keep clean sheets last term (City didn't manage it until they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in January) and Norwich are BetVictor's 12/5 shots to keep QPR at bay.

Back in the correct score markets, City are priced at an attractive 13/2 (bet365) to secure a 1-0 victory and at 8/1 with Stan James to record a 2-0 win. Punters expecting them to win also have the opportunity to take advantage of the 13/5 posted by Boylesports against City enjoying a one goal margin of victory.