Premier League: Harry Redknapp refuses to blame QPR players after Burnley loss

Harry Redknapp was left to rue defensive errors but refused to blame his QPR players for a 10th successive away defeat.

Goals from Scott Arfield and Danny Ings were enough to give Burnley a crucial 2-1 win over their relegation rivals, who have slipped into the bottom three.

The defeat means QPR have now broken a Premier League record for straight away defeats from the start of a season but Redknapp failed to criticise his squad. 

“It’s very difficult to win away from home,” Redknapp said.

“Some teams have only won one game away from home, does that make them fantastic?

“That’s the way it goes, we’ve certainly tried hard and worked hard today. It just wasn’t to be. You just can’t defend like we did on two occasions and expect to win. We scored and I felt we were on top of the game at that stage. Then we find ourselves 2-1 down because of some poor defending. When you look at the two goals, they were horrendous goals.”

Redknapp handed Adel Taarabt his first start in the Premier League this season for the trip to Turf Moor.

The pair had a public fallout earlier this season when Redknapp called Taarabt “the worst professional I’ve worked with” and Taarabt responded by saying Redknapp was using him as a scapegoat for a poor start to the season.

They have seemed to put their differences aside as Redknapp now thinks Taarabt is fit enough to play in the first-team. 

“I thought Taarabt did well today and worked hard,” Redknapp said.

“He trained OK this week. He’s got great ability. I’ve been wanting him to play. I’ve got no problems with him but he’s not been fit to play all season: he knows that. He’s got to get his finger out and get playing. He did that today, he put in a shift. I was pleased with what he did.

“I’ve never had a bad relationship with him. I was just disappointed with the way his career was going. It was going downhill fast. He has to train. He has to play. If he plays and works, I want him playing. I want him in my team. I don’t hold grudges against anybody. He’s a talent and we need him fit.”