Can QPR complete the great escape?

QPR boss Harry Redknapp celebrated his birthday with a 2-1 victory at old-club Southampton

QPR claimed only their third Premier League victory of the season yesterday, winning 2-1 at fellow relegation candidates Southampton.

The win was desperately needed as it put the Hoops within four points of safety.

Impossible

A few weeks ago it looked impossible that Rangers would escape the drop this season.

They looked destined to be playing Championship football next season. Just two wins in the top flight all season was just not good enough.

The victory at Southampton has given QPR fans major hope that their club could escape the drop.

Four points is not a major gap with ten games still remaining. The Hoops also have to play a number of their relegation rivals before the season finishes.

QPR have now given themselves a fighting chance of staying in the top flight and that’s all the fans could have asked for when Harry Redknapp arrived as manager.

Furious

Boss Harry Redknapp has hit out at claims that his players went on a drinking binge on a recent trip to Dubai. The former-Tottenham boss claimed that his players did go out, but they trained the next day.

I don’t think many QPR fans would complain about their players drinking if they keep winning games and stay in the Premier League!

Chance

Realistically QPR could be out of the bottom three in the next few weeks. Their next two games are very winnable ones. The Hoops face a home game against Sunderland next weekend and then a trip to fellow strugglers Aston Villa the weekend afterwards.

These are the sort of games that Harry Redknapp’s side have to win if they have any chance of staying in the Premier League.

Energy

The Hoops showed far more energy in their performance against the Saints than in previous weeks and they got their reward. The win coincided with mercurial playmaker Adel Taarabt being dropped down to the bench.

Taarabt is an outstanding talent, but he is a bit of a luxury player. The Moroccan isn’t the sort of player you want in a relegation battle. He may be a match winner, but QPR need players that can battle at the moment.

Since Harry Redknapp has taken over at Loftus Road he has tried to select teams that have contained players that work hard, but are not as flashy. This philosophy seemed to pay off in yesterday’s game.

Taarabt’s replacement was Jay Bothroyd, who was starting his first Premier League game of season and he scored the winning goal. The striker had a decent game and alongside Loic Remy was a good focal point of the attack.

History

Harry Redknapp has a history of managing teams to great escapes. The veteran boss managed West Ham to a great escape. When he arrived at Tottenham the club were in the bottom three and struggling.

In a few short years he transformed Spurs into a team challenging for the Champions League spots. I’m not saying he can do the same with QPR, but he can still keep the Hoops in the top flight.

Together

For too long QPR have looked like a set of individuals thrown together into a team. The Hoops finally looked like a team against Southampton. Everybody worked for each other and they got their reward.

If QPR do survive the drop this season then you can be sure that QPR will be a different team under Harry Redknapp next season. Following the last game of last season then-QPR boss Mark Hughes promised that the team wouldn’t be in the same perilous position again under him. We all know how that turned out for Hughes.

Redknapp won’t make such promises if they do survive, but I don’t believe that next season they will be in the same position. Redknapp will get rid of some of the deadwood and make sure he has the right players in his team.

First though QPR have to survive the drop this season. The win at Southampton may just be one victory, but it could prove to be a vital one. The victory could be the key to survival this season. The great escape could just be on.

Can QPR complete the great escape this season?