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Shaun Wright-Phillips: Forget signings – QPR just need a winning run to spark a promotion push

Former Queens Park Rangers and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes his old club can still force their way into the Championship promotion picture – and insists that consistency, not new January signings, will determine their fate.

Hull City’s Charlie Hughes, right, attempts to break away from QPR match-winner Rumarn Burrell

Former Queens Park Rangers and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes his old club can still force their way into the Championship promotion picture – and insists that consistency, not new January signings, will determine their fate.

The R’s form has been a real mixed bag this season. They went winless in their opening three games – including a heavy 7-1 hammering at the hands of high-flying Coventry City – before French boss Julien Stephan sparked a six-match unbeaten run.

That momentum didn’t last, though, with another slump of three straight defeats following.

As with so many Championship sides this year, putting together any kind of winning streak has proved difficult.

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Extra spark

The table is so tight that just six points separate second-placed Stoke City from Leicester City down in 15th.

But a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last night secured QPR’s first back-to-back victories since September. They now sit 12th, only a few points outside the play-off places.

In an exclusive interview with BestBettingSites, Wright-Phillips argued that a couple of wins would do more for QPR’s promotion push than any new signings.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the signings,” he replied when asked if right signings could reignite QPR’s promotion push.

“When you’re down there in the Championship, and January is coming, you do think of what players we can bring on just to add that little extra spark to give us a little run.” 

Queens Park Rangers manager Julien Stephan has shown his willingness to change tactics
Queens Park Rangers manager Julien Stephan
PICTURE: Alamy

Momentum

The 44-year-old went on to explain how the margins are far finer than they appear in the second tier of English football.

“I think if they can win two or three games on the bounce, then their position and the outlook on everything will change completely,” he said.

“That is one thing I noticed playing in the Championship, and now even watching it always – from about third position down to about 12th, if you can get three wins, you can jump from 12th position to six or fifth with just three straight wins.

“So I think if they can pick up a bit of momentum, they can bounce right back up there and then the picture changes.

“Players’ confidence changes, the beliefs change and that’s when they can start just flourishing and playing football, picking up the results they need.”

Full comments from Shaun Wright-Phillips’s interview are available at www.bestbettingsites.co.uk

READ MORE: Shaun Wright-Phillips: Frank Lampard’s ‘hard work’ sparked managerial revival at Coventry City

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