QPR fans are celebrating a big 3-2 win over Liverpool, while Leeds United conceded seven the night before.
QPR fans knew coming into the season it would be a struggle, that was confirmed by their opening 4-0 day loss to Bolton.
But the amount of money suddenly made available to Neil Warnock at the end of August and in early January increased everybody’s expectations around the club, who would have hoped they would be occupying the lofty heights that fellow new boys Swansea City are, rather than battling relegation.
Neil Warnock was sacked, and replaced with Mark Hughes, who applied a scattergun approach to signing whoever he could get his hands on. This showed in the team’s performances, failing to gel, and looking destined for relegation.
Warnock on the other hand, went straight into a plum job at Leeds United, arguably the biggest club outside the top flight, entering an unholy marriage of convenience with controversial Elland Road chairman Ken Bates.
This week their fortunes completely reversed.
QPR’s stunning and unlikely comeback win over Liverpool gives them new hope, and could act as a catalyst in their relegation fight. They needed a win from somewhere, and Mark Hughes can use it to inspire his men onwards from here.
Neil Warnock and Leeds are in all kinds of trouble. When Ken Bates hired Warnock he never would have imagined a circumstance like Tuesday night, with Leeds losing 7-3 to Nottingham Forest.
Warnock now finds his back against the wall again, and with such an unpredictable chairman, the man Joey Barton called ‘Mike Bassett’ could find himself sacked for the second time in a season if he does not buck up results quickly.
QPR will be going onwards with a spring in their step from here on in, and Hughes will relish the challenge. He has several talented players in the squad, who are more than capable of beating relegation if he gets it right.
Leeds on the other hand do not have the same talent, and Warnock will hope he gets the summer to re-patch the squad, surely he will.
But if any QPR fans were still craving the return of Warnock, they should probably reconsider after this week.
image: © joncandy
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