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Mark Hughes' men go into Monday's clash looking for the first win of the season but Willie Duncan expects Sam Allardyce's side to make life difficult for the hosts at Loftus Road

Queens Park Rangers will look to haul themselves from the foot of the English Premier League table when they welcome West Ham United to Loftus Road on Monday night.

Despite beating the drop on the final day of the campaign last season, Mark Hughes’ men have endured a difficult start to the new campaign and have picked up just two points from their opening five Premier League fixtures. Rangers, though, are priced up as 23/20 (2.15) favourites with Paddy Power to claim their first win of the campaign on Monday.

Sam Allardyce’s side have made a solid start to the campaign, picking up eight points from their opening handful of fixtures with a 3-0 reverse at the hands of Swansea City the only black mark on their record thus far. The Hammers, though, have yet to win on the road in the league this season and are chalked up as 5/2 (3.50) chances with Paddy Power to do so here while the same firm go 9/4 (3.25) that the match ends in a draw.

Bobby Zamora has scored all three of Rangers’ Premier League goals so far this season so it is no surprise to see the former Fulham striker at the head of Paddy Power’s first goalscorer market here.

Zamora is chalked up as an 11/2 (6.50) shot at Paddy Power to score the first goal of the game on Monday night while the same firm go 17/10 (2.70) that Zamora hits the target at any time.

West Ham’s summer signing Andy Carroll looks certain to sit out of Monday’s encounter again as he battles to regain fitness following a hamstring strain so Carlton Cole is likely to lead the Hammers' attack once again and the forward is chalked up at 8/1 (9.0) with Paddy Power to notch the opener.

Better value, though, may lie with West Ham captain Kevin Nolan. The former Newcastle midfielder is available at a chunky 9/1 (10.0) to score first with Paddy Power while the same firm offer a tasty 3/1 (4.0) quote for the midfielder, who has notched three Premier League goals already this season to net at any time.

The Hammers will have no fear ahead of the trip to Loftus Road and look to be overpriced in the main match markets so the 4/6 (1.67) for Allardyce’s men (+1) in the handicap market appeals here, while captain Nolan is outstanding value to bag Monday’s opening goal.

BET

OF THE

DAY

BEST BET

VALUE BET

West Ham United (+1) at 4/6 (1.67) with Paddy Power

Kevin Nolan to score first at 9/1 (10.0) with Paddy Power

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter