Queens Park Rangers simply must win on Sunday, insists Harry Redknapp.
The Hoops found themselves 3-0 down at Fulham on Monday night, and despite pulling two goals back early in the second half, they were unable to force an equaliser against a side who were reduced to ten men when Steve Sidwell was shown a red card on 79 minutes.
Loic Remy also missed a penalty for QPR when the score was 3-1, but it was the defending of Clint Hill and, in particular, expensive January signing Christopher Samba which really disappointed Redknapp, who claimed the three goals conceded were the worst he had ever witnessed.
“A disastrous first half cost us, they were the worst goals I’ve seen in my life,” the 66-year-old, who led Tottenham Hotspur to fourth place last season, told Sky Sports. “They were scandalous goals. It was an absolute disaster. We murdered them in the second half. I thought we would win the game.”
The Loftus Road club now have just seven matches to retain their top-flight status, beginning with the visit of Wigan Athletic on Sunday. The Latics pulled off a miraculous escape bid last season when they looked all but doomed, winning seven of their last nine matches to secure survival.
Roberto Martinez and his side face another battle with relegation this term, but a win over QPR would put them ten points ahead of the Londoners with a game in hand. Redknapp has therefore told his players they must register a fifth win of the season when the Lancashire side visit.
“We are not giving up,” he continued. “We have to beat Wigan Athletic on Sunday, that is where we are at now. We need another 14 points from the remaining seven games and we have to try to do that. We have to win four and draw two but it is getting harder.”
