Aston Villa v QPR
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish picked a strong team in their FA Cup defeat by Arsenal and, although they ended up losing, they went for it, which is a good thing.
When you talk about transfers this month and what different teams might need, then you have to recognise that bringing in Robbie Keane on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy for a few weeks has made a real difference to Villa.
My sportsman's bet about Thierry Henry not scoring another competitive goal for Arsenal after he got the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup third round is still looking good but, unlike Henry, Villa have brought in a player in Keane who could still play permanently in the Premier League.
By picking Keane as well as Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor, McLeish is sending out a message to his side that they have got a bit more attacking intent and I think Villa are looking much better for it.
As yet, QPR haven't done too much to solve their defensive and goalscoring problems although you would have to think that two of Mark Hughes's signings, defenders Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo, will feature in this game.
I am still not sure where QPR's goals are going to come from, and I think they will be working like crazy until deadline day, inundating people with phone calls to try to bring someone in to change that.
Lawro's prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 QPR
Here are all of Mark Lawrenson's 230 Premier League predictions for the 2011-12 season so far, together with how the League Table would look like based on his forecasts...
Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish picked a strong team in their FA Cup defeat by Arsenal and, although they ended up losing, they went for it, which is a good thing.
When you talk about transfers this month and what different teams might need, then you have to recognise that bringing in Robbie Keane on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy for a few weeks has made a real difference to Villa.
My sportsman's bet about Thierry Henry not scoring another competitive goal for Arsenal after he got the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup third round is still looking good but, unlike Henry, Villa have brought in a player in Keane who could still play permanently in the Premier League.
By picking Keane as well as Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor, McLeish is sending out a message to his side that they have got a bit more attacking intent and I think Villa are looking much better for it.
As yet, QPR haven't done too much to solve their defensive and goalscoring problems although you would have to think that two of Mark Hughes's signings, defenders Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo, will feature in this game.
I am still not sure where QPR's goals are going to come from, and I think they will be working like crazy until deadline day, inundating people with phone calls to try to bring someone in to change that.
Lawro's prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 QPR
Here are all of Mark Lawrenson's 230 Premier League predictions for the 2011-12 season so far, together with how the League Table would look like based on his forecasts...
Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
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