QPR are this year’s Wolves- fast becoming experts at knocking off the top clubs but struggling for consistency against the others.
It is that time of year when relegation strugglers suddenly realise the gravity of their situation, and start pulling unlikely results out of the bag.
It was especially evident when Wigan went to Anfield and won last weekend, but sandwiched either side of that surprise result, have been equally stunning wins for QPR.
It is hard to work out which win was more impressive for QPR, the 3-2 comeback against Liverpool, or the 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday which ended the Gunners’ seven game winning streak.
Added to the R’s excellent, although marred by controversy, 1-0 win at home to Chelsea earlier in the season, and they have suddenly racked up quite a portfolio of impressive wins against the so-called elite clubs.
Except those three wins are deceptive. QPR are still stuck in 18th, inside the Premier League’s relegation zone, and have also presented their supporters with some abject performances and results, with the 6-0 loss to Fulham and a 3-2 loss to Blackburn which flattered them, prominent examples.
The three ‘top’ clubs they have beaten are far from it. Chelsea are experiencing their worst league season in over a decade, Liverpool face a struggle to make the top 10, and Arsenal have also experienced more than their fair share of woe this season, despite their recent upturn.
Fans should be highly encouraged by their results of late, but not get carried away.
Instead it is worth reflecting on a season which up until this point had been racked with too much upheaval and controversy. That is why the club are where they are.
From the first game’s disastrous 4-0 loss to Bolton, to the August deadline day spending spree, to the clash against Chelsea, right through to Neil Warnock’s sacking and replacement, QPR’s season has not been allowed to settle.
The club have made 14 permanent signings in 2011/12, and that is not counting the loan acquisition of Samba Diakite, plus the failed loans of Federico Macheda and Jason Puncheon.
There have simply been too many players coming into the club for the squad to gel, and with a new manager too, it is no wonder the club has failed to hit their stride until now.
They have also had to contend with the loss to injury of arguably their star midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, who was doing a good job early on of showing he belongs at Premier League level.
Two wins in three is a good sign suddenly for Mark Hughes’ side, but that also works out at three wins in 10, which very much is relegation zone.
This is the consistency QPR have displayed all season, just seven league wins, and they need to get that tally into double figures as quickly as possible.
Their next game, a trip to Manchester United, may not yield much in the way of points, but the club have shown they can mix it against the top sides, and with their tails up, may just feel that anything is possible.
Even if they stay up, winning such a high percentage of their games in unlikely circumstances is unsustainable in the long-term.
Just ask Wolves, who beat Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City last season, but this year the results have dried up, and they seem certain for relegation.
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The team at video blogging site Winkball kindly sent us over a collection of fan interviews outside Loftus Road after the Arsenal match. Watch them below…
Can QPR stay up? How many games to they need to win to do so?
image: © joncandy
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