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Will QPR survive the final furlong?

By on March 16, 2015

After their first half display in the 3-1 defeat to London rivals Crystal Palace, Queen’s Park Rangers currently have more concerns than a Top Gear fan.  If not for Sunderland’s shambolic first-half display against Aston Villa at the weekend, QPR may have fallen victim to some unwanted attention.  The loss means relegation threatens, still more concerning given the debt which overshadows Loftus Road; if Rangers are to be relegated, they may end up like their Scottish namesake and in need of Lenny Henry from Premier Inn when they’re Premier Out!

It has been no laughing matter since Chris Ramsey replaced Harry Redknapp in the West London hot-seat, and although Ramsey shares his name with a British comedian, there has been an all-around lack of smiles at Loftus Road all season. Since Harry Redknapp decided his dodgy knees meant he could no longer wheel his windows down on deadline day and remain QPR manager, Ramsey has been doing his best as caretaker manager.  Ramsey started promisingly, with the one and only (cue Chesney Hawkes)  away win for QPR this season, at Sunderland (nevermind Sunderland’s own issues), but without Charlie Austin’s powers this campaign they would be in an even bigger mire. Austin’s fifteen goals so far this season has even sparked rumours of an England call-up, alongside other bright, young forwards Danny Ings and Harry Kane.

Simply put, there is a losing mentality at QPR; Chris Ramsey has brought back players who were out in the cold (or, in the case of Adel Taarabt, out at KFC) under Redknapp and has brought up academy players, such as Darnell Furlong. Furlong, son of former QPR forward Paul Furlong, comes from a family of QPR player, but the 19-year-old struggled against the pace of Crystal Palace’s wingers at the weekend — namely, Yannick Bolasie — and was quickly substituted by Ramsey at halftime. IndeedMatty Phillips, who may have been able to score a wonderful consolation goal from 40 yards out, but it is 40 points what is required for QPR. That late strike will surely be a goal of the season contender, although Phillips needs to hit a few more shots harder than a Phil Bardsley punch on Wayne Rooney if the West Londoners are going to get anywhere near that 40 point mark.

Indeed, Matty Phillips scored a wonderful consolation goal from forty yards out that largely overshadows the loss; however, it is forty points that QPR will likely need to stay up.  That late strike will surely be a goal of the season contender, although Phillips needs to hit a few more shots harder than a Phil Bardsley punch on Wayne Rooney if the West Londoners are going to get anywhere near that forty point mark.

QPR may be about to drop quicker than Madonna performing at the Brit awards, and after Burnley were Boyd (pun intended) with their win over champions Manchester City, love doesn’t seem willing to help (by all means, wins will, though).  George Boyd scored the winning goal as Sean Dyche lead his ‘ginger Mourinho’ side to mastermind a 1-0 win over City, which moved the Lancashire club up to third from bottom, leaving QPR to second from bottom. Only Leicester are now below the Hoops (who only have nine hoops left to jump through to survive this season), as the three promoted sides currently fill the relegation slots.  Plus, since Tim Sherwood came through the doors at Villa Park, Aston Villa have rediscovered the ability to score (miracles do happen, Gus), leaving little hope left for QPR.  Ironically, Sherwood was heavily linked with the QPR job after Redknapp left before Ramsey took over.

Captain Joey Barton’s distractions also make an unwanted presence, with the ever-controversial midfielder having just returned from a suspension. Barton saw red at Hull City while defending young Furlong, and reportedly may be in need of therapy, as a result.  Certainly, that’s what QPR need at the moment.  This week’s spin-off Star Wars film was named Rogue One, but in a relegation battle there is no room for the Rogue One, and Barton is unlikely to walk back into the Rangers side.  In QPR’s relegation scrap, though, every last option must be tried.

The latest episode of Top Gear was meant to feature Match of the Day host and former England forward Gary Lineker in a reasonably priced car, but it is longer possible to see Lineker in the hot seat; QPR too may be missing out on Lineker if they are relegated, made to see Manish Bhasin on The Football League Show on a Saturday night, instead.  Simply, QPR cannot afford to trip up on a broken cup like Enner Valencia would do. It has now become officially the business end of the season, so to avoid the dreaded drop, make like Mo Farah and bring the pace to complete the final furlong!

Photo credit: Patrick on Flickr

About Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis can relate almost anything to football and quite often does! You may have seen Richard's previous ideas and work in the BBC Match of the Day Magazine, from 2011 to present. He is a Manchester United and England fan, but has gone to see Leyton Orient play with his O's season ticket in the 2013/14 campaign. Aside from football, Richard has written articles on Doctor Who and studies English Language and Linguistics at the University of Westminster. Aspiring sports journalist.