Summary:
QPR meet fellow strugglers Stoke City at Loftus Road
Harry Redknapp insists his dream of masterminding QPR’s great escape from relegation is still alive ahead of the relegation dogfight with Stoke City at Loftus Road.
Rangers sit 19th in the Premier League – level with bottom club Reading – and still ten points from safety.
But Redknapp is targeting four wins from the final five games, despite QPR failing to win any of their previous four matches.
“It’s a tall order but we will keep going,” he said. “The dream is still alive. It’s not dead yet and we’ve got to keep going.
“We need four wins and a draw from the final five games to have a chance.
“We’re still not down. There’s no way we’re giving up on this season yet. We’ll keep trying and keep believing.”
The club’s owner Tony Fernandes has been criticised this season for over-spending, in an attempt to help QPR avoid the drop, but his manager still believes in his vision for the club.
“If [relegation] happens, we’ve got to re-group and come back stronger,” Redknapp added.
“The people that own QPR are good people. They’re looking to see the job through over the coming years.
“They are getting everything in place to push the club on.”
Stoke have themselves been dragged into the relegation battle in recent weeks having only won twice in their last 18 games.
Tony Pulis’ side are only three points from safety in 16th place but Redknapp said their recent poor run is just a blip.
“Tony has done a good job there,” said Redknapp. “They’ve had a bad little run, but he’s done a terrific job.
“He will be looking for answers as to what’s gone wrong since the turn of the year, but they’re never easy to find.
“It will be a hard game for us, we know that.”
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