Aston Villa’s late show against West Brom tonight leaves QPR with two games in hand on the three sides immediately above them, but back in the bottom three.
The air of positivity around QPR, or at least a serene calmness among those who aren't positive, certainly hasn't grown from decent results on the field. Twice in three games since Chris Ramsey took over games that should have been drawn have been lost in the very last minute, robbing Rangers of two vital points. Consequently, Aston Villa's home win tonight has dropped the R's into the relegation zone on a run of one victory from ten matches played.
It could simply be that the behaviour, demeanour, decisions and attitude of the previous incumbent had dragged everybody's mood down to such a low point that any change was bound to lift the place, even if the change made little difference to the scores.
Looking at it objectively, if you were the supporter of another team at the bottom of the Premier League you'd be looking at QPR and thinking they will go down. Not only because they're a newly promoted side, and the difference in rules and financial gulf between the top two divisions means that the bottom three will be the promoted three more often than not moving forwards, but because the results have dried up, the injuries are mounting and internal managerial appointments like the one Tony Fernandes has just made rarely work out at the top level.
The departure of Redknapp, an experienced manager who'd achieved a promotion but had started to grate on supporters, stopped getting results and was obviously past his sell by date, and the decision to replace him with coach Chris Ramsey, is a carbon copy — almost to the same day — of a decision Wolves made three seasons ago when Mick McCarthy was replaced by Terry Connor. They went into a freefall that only stopped two years later in the middle of League One when Kenny Jackett turned up.
But it seems the majority of the people who spend their time watching QPR are pleased with the message, and actions, that are coming out of the club. There was a noticeable difference in the packed away end at Hull last week, compared to trips to West Ham, Southampton and by all accounts Stoke earlier in the season. The result was no different, so one can only conclude that Redknapp not being there, and youth teamers being given a long overdue chance in the first team, had something to do with it. People were more supportive of the team, and less aggressive towards each other. I've heard people say that even if we are relegated, as long as the board is willing to continue financing it — and this week's write off of £60m worth of debt, while certainly a dodgy attempt to circumnavigate the Championship's FFP rules, suggests they are — that the club is finally moving in the right direction.
And just because the outsiders looking in say QPR are doomed, doesn't necessarily mean they are. In 2011/12, after Mark Hughes took over, Rangers lost a series of games against Wolves, Bolton, Blackburn, Fulham and other sides around them in the table leaving them in the bottom three and facing a daunting final dozen games which included home fixtures with Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Swansea and Stoke and trips to Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City.
They were 2-0 in the first of those fixtures, at home to Liverpool, when they finally withdrew underperforming, high-earning Joey Barton from the midfield and started to rely on Shaun Derry. The idea that Rangers would roar back to win 3-2, and then - inspired by Derry, Jamie Mackie, Clint Hill, Adel Taarabt (who'd all played in the Championship the year before) and the goals of Djibril Cisse — win their next four home games on the spin to survive, was preposterous.
But, even under Mark Hughes' dreadful management, the club and the team was able to pull together and get enough points on the board, partly through the pressure of expectation being lifted, partly by being forced to attack games they may otherwise have played for a point in, and partly by going back to a core of players with the club at heart.
There's a similar feeling, and an identical set of fixtures around the place now. Two defeats this week would make hope difficult to maintain, but a win, or four points from six, and QPR could be about to repeat that feat. Where's Samba Diakite when we need him?
Links >>> Expectation levels — opposition focus >>> Same old, same old — interview >>> Kenny Sansom screamer — history >>> Friend returns — referee >>> Smiley presser
Mali international Samba Diakite hammers in a spectacular first goal for the club as QPR beat Arsenal 2-1 at Loftus Road to give their survival hopes a crucial shot in the arm back in March 2012.
Arsenal can call on Aaron Ramsey for the first time in four weeks, but Francis Coquelin is a doubt after shattering his nose during the Everton match on Sunday. That adds to a growing midfield injury list that already includes Jack Wilshere, Mathieu Debuchy, Mathieu Flamini and the permanently crocked Abou Diaby.
Elsewhere: Ben Foster’s brain explosion, which will be no doubt followed by a Man of the Match display when QPR go to West Brom this Easter, gifted Aston Villa a 2-1 home win this evening and lifted them three points above QPR and out of the relegation zone. Rangers have two games in hand on them, Sunderland who are a point further ahead, and Tigers Tigers Rah Rah Rah who are a point better off still. Gus Poyet and Steve Bruce saw their sides draw 1-1 tonight.
That leaves seven fixtures for Wednesday including our own. No doubt it's all eyes on Louis Van Gaal's trip to Newcastle. What formation will he pick? How will Angel Di Maria play? Will Wayne Rooney play in midfield? What will Van Gaal say afterwards? And, most crucially, who gives a fuck?
QPR will be hoping that Manchester City stop pisballing around, and that the Collective Men of Liverpool are indeed together as one, as they both have supposedly banker home wins against Leicester and Burnley who currently reside below Rangers in the table.
Everton are sliding towards the whirlpool, and the natives will grow more restless still if they lose to Meticulous Mark and the Taffia. Tottenham v Swansea is of little interest to anybody while Big Fat Sam's Big Fat Brand of Entertaining Football faces a tough task to recover from its mauling by Pards Pardew at the weekend with Big Racist John and the Boys visiting Upton Park with a midfield packed with expensive centre halves.
Referee: Kevin Friend may be in absolutely appalling form, and have forgotten what a penalty kick is judging by the obvious ones he waved away at Bradford v Sunderland and Southampton v Liverpool recently, but that isn't apparently enough for him to be removed from crucial Premier League games like this, with so much at stake at both ends of the table. Just ten days after that debacle at St Mary's here he is in action again. Full QPR case file available here.
Arsenal: Now 3-1 down after the first leg of their Champions League tie with Monaco and with Man Utd away in the FA Cup next week, where they haven't won in ten attempts, it feels like that fortnight that happens every year around this time where Arsenal's hope of silverware falls apart and they're left to pursue fourth place instead. Despite the criticism they've received, they look well set for those Champions League spots with the Monaco result blotting a fine run of league form that includes six wins and just a single defeat at Spurs. The Gunners are flat track bullies at home, but have shown mental weakness on their travels this season — losing at Swansea, Stoke, Southampton, Spurs and Chelsea and only drawing at bottom side Leicester.
Prediction: Reigning Prediction League champion WestonSuperR tells us…
"This is the first of some crucial matches at Loftus Road between now and the end of the season. I believe anyone confidently predicting we will stay up or down is wrong as I'm certain it will be tight, I fancy it to go down to the last match away at Leicester.
"Our midfield selection will be interesting, if Sandro can't play we will be incredibly short and as well as Doughty has done, 90 minutes against a creative and quick Arsenal midfield is a big ask. I feel the middle of the park is where we may struggle and as much as I can see Austin causing problems and possibly scoring I am concerned that Arsenal may find a midfield and defence that will not have played many games together, too easy to create chances against.
"Let's hope I am wrong but I fancy this to be a tight, hard fought match but one that will bring a narrow victory for Arsenal."
John's Prediction: QPR 1-2 Arsenal. Scorer — Charlie Austin
LFW's Prediction: QPR 1-1 Arsenal. Scorer — Charlie Austin
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Pictures — Action Images