QPR preserved their unbeaten start to the season with an excellent performance and deserved three points in last weekend's top-of-the-table clash against Cardiff but the emotional energy expanded for that game could provide a difficult contrast when they travel to Hull on Saturday.

Rangers stepped up to the plate with their best display of the campaign so far against the Bluebirds and have surely now answered all questions about their title credentials - they have what it takes to go all the way, and we're not disputing it.

However, they wouldn't be the first heavyweight contender to drop their guard in anticipation of the bell towards the end of an impressive round and now they come up against opponents who pack a surprise punch.

Hull have endured a disappointing start to the campaign but they've picked up in recent weeks following the Allam family takeover and they're unbeaten in four outings (three of them away) since it became apparent that their financial future was secure.

Prior to that, they hadn't won in seven attempts and that goes some way towards explaining why they can be backed at 9/4 on home soil.

However, we shouldn't underestimate the impact of recent events in allowing Nigel Pearson to get the best out of his players now and we should appreciate that few managers can outfox the former Leicester boss from a tactical viewpoint.

Pearson has a knack for frustrating teams of superior attacking ability and with sub-zero temperatures forecast for Humberside on Saturday, it could all add up to an afternoon that Neil Warnock and his men would like to forget.

Warnock has made no secret of the team's reliance on Adel Taarabt this season and one thing he cannot disguise is that team who find a way to stop the Moroccan have invariably found a way to stop QPR.

Needless to say, as a former central defender who prides himself on his ability to contain opponents, Pearson will probably have something up his sleeve to that effect.

All things considered, the layers are right to make QPR favourites but not to the extent that they have.

The price, the timing and the conditions are all to our liking, so we'll start with a solid bet on the Tigers so catch the leaders cold and finally bring the curtain down on that magnificent run.

Meanwhile, the layers appear to be pricing up Coventry and Middlesbrough as more or less equal (once you remove the standard premium for home advantage) but we're not quite sure how they fathom that out seeing as the two teams are separated by 17 places in the table.

We appreciate that Boro have plenty of scope to improve on the standards they were setting under Gordon Strachan but this remains a side lacking pace, creativity and width, so Tony Mowbray faces a real task trying to get them functioning any better until the January transfer window opens.

Coventry have produced a mixed bag of results this season but they've only drawn three times and their desire to force an outcome whenever they venture on to the field tends to pay off in a division like this, meaning they currently sit in sixth position in spite of seven defeats.

Looking at the two team sheets, you wouldn't expect them to be separated by a great deal but it's clear that Aidy Boothroyd is making much more of the tools at his disposal and the Sky Blues are being rewarded for playing to certain individual strengths.

They did the business for bettingzone followers against Burnley a fortnight ago and now they can follow up with another three points in this game.

PICKS:
Coventry to beat Middlesbrough at 2.20 at Bet365.
Hull to beat QPR at 3.00 at Bet365.