Risk of relegation grows for QPR after another catastrophic defeat
Published:QPR’s January work in bringing in a boss used to delivering top-half finishes and several new signings was expected to keep them comfortably clear of danger, however recent events have pushed them in to 11/10 for the drop.
Mark Hughes made a losing start away to Newcastle but four successive fixtures against bottom-eight rivals after that should have enabled them to pull clear of the relegation zone.
But after winning the first match of that run 3-1 against Wigan, things have dramatically declined, the surrender of a 2-0 lead at Aston Villa being followed by a home defeat to Wolves and 3-2 reverse at Blackburn on Saturday.
That setback at Ewood Park marked the first time that Hughes had been toppled by his former employers, though the two second-half strikes proved more than consolatory, ensuring that they remain above the trap door on goal difference.
It also gave them a positive to cling onto at the end of a disastrous eight-day period, which may be significant as the Hoops now have consecutive home games to salvage the situation against mid-table pair Fulham and Everton.
They are still the most fancied of the desperately close bottom five to survive, odds of 11/10 noticeably larger than the 5/6 available on Wolves and Blackburn, the 8/13 offered on Bolton and the 2/7 for bottom side Wigan.
And yet it is the Latics who are arguably on the biggest high of the lot at the moment after claiming a first victory in ten Premier League encounters away to fellow strugglers Bolton, pushing them to within two points of safety.
The club have been relegated just once in their entire history and have cultivated a reputation as escapology experts in recent seasons, so with their team spirit very much intact, they are sure to make life difficult for the likes of QPR.
