The Relegation Trap Door Yawns Wide Open For Sparky's QPR

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Another day, another red card and another defeat. Apart from a home victory over bottom of the table Wigan, Mark Hughes' start has been one disaster after another. Hope of a Martin O'Neill style surge of victories has proved forlorn; indeed, there's a growing feeling that the Hoops might have had more points now had Warnock stayed in charge.

The situation is now desperate. I was mocked and reviled in October when I served notice that QPR would face a battle to survive this season. The Hoops were in mid table and five or six points ahead of the drop zone. I was insulted again when I questioned Fernandes' willingness to invest sufficiently in the team to keep them up, and there was much gloating when Zamora and Cisse were signed, along with Taiwodumb and Nedumdummer. But I warned that defensive cover was still scant and that the record of the two forwards bought for biggish money suggested that goals might not yet flow at the other end.

Hughes was appointed with two things in mind: the transfer window, so he could build his own squad; and an easy run of games giving him the opportunity of a honeymoon period. I'm sure when Fernandes and Hughes talked the target was at least nine points from home games against Wigan, Wolves and Fulham and away games at Newcastle (without Ba), Villa and Blackburn. Instead, Hughes' team have picked up a paltry return of just 4 points. They should be on 26 points now, five points clear of the drop zone; instead they are fourth from bottom, one point off bottom place!

And the trouble is, those points are lost forever, and the opposition now becomes much tougher. Everton at home is winnable as are the home games against Swansea and Stoke but not on current form. The games against Arsenal and Spurs look very difficult indeed. Let's say the Rs net 11 points from those games - and that's optimistic - that will take them to 32 points. So, to make it to 38 points, Hughes needs to pick up 6 points on the road.

The game at Bolton now becomes crucial. Lose that and QPR will be in desperate trouble because it's hard to see them getting anything at Man Utd, Man City or Chelsea. West Brom away offers an opportunity I suppose although they have just taken Sunderland apart after thrashing Wolves. Then there's a long trip up to Martin O'Neill's Sunderland! How many points from that lot? Five at best? That would see Rangers through to 37 and probable safety, but if they don't beat Everton and lose at Bolton, then God help them!

I suppose the lesson for the gRs is to stop and think before they hurl insults. I have expressed honest opinions throughout and despite Fernandes, Ferdinand, Gabbidon and Dyer's presence in the Bush, take no pleasure in QPR's plight. Mind you, I bet Neil Warnock is having a good old laugh tonight. "Mark Hughes? They sacked me for Mark Hughes? What the bloody hell has Mark Hughes ever done in management? He couldn't even win anything with Tevez, and we all know how that cnut relegated me at Sheffield United!"