Saturday 4 April 2015 18:50, UK
QPR boss Chris Ramsey was delighted to see his side take their chances in Saturday’s vital 4-1 victory at West Brom.
Defeat would have left the relegation-threatened Londoners long odds-on for the drop but, helped by a superb Eduardo Vargas opener and an even better Bobby Zamora effort, Ramsey’s men have climbed up to 18th.
The R’s had slipped into big trouble following a run of five defeats in a row, but they had their chances in most of those fixtures, and Ramsey was pleased that they were more clinical at the Hawthorns.
“I am very, very pleased,” he said.
“We had a similar performance last time (a 2-1 loss at home to Everton) but we didn’t take our chances.
“We have made a lot of chances in all the games that we have played, but we just haven’t taken them. Today, we did.
“I am still a little bit disappointed that we did not manage to keep a clean sheet but it is always going to be difficult when you are up and the other team are going to come at you with everything they have got.
We have got Aston Villa and Chelsea, and we really need to get something out of those two games but, whatever happens, until it is mathematically not possible for us to get above that line, we are going to keep fighting.
“But we got three points, which we needed.
“I am very pleased with the way the players applied themselves because this is not an easy place to come. We are looking forward to Tuesday (when they take on Aston Villa) now.”
The match was certainly closer than the result suggests and West Brom looked like they might mount a comeback when they pulled it back to 3-1, only to lose momentum when Youssouf Mulumbu was sent off late on.
Joey Barton then scored a fourth for QPR in stoppage time and Ramsey added: “The scoreline was brilliant for us as regards goal difference, but I don’t think anyone watching that would look at it as a 4-1 game.
“It was a lot closer than that on the pitch and the time seemed to take forever!”
QPR are now 18th in the table, one point off safety ahead of Sunday’s games and three points behind Villa, who they visit on Tuesday, ahead of a home match against Chelsea next Sunday.
Ramsey said: “This helps us, morale-wise.
“Unfortunately, we are in a position now where we do need to look at what they (relegation rivals) are doing, but obviously we know we need to get some points from the next two games, it is going to be crucial.
“We have got Aston Villa and Chelsea, and we really need to get something out of those two games but, whatever happens, until it is mathematically not possible for us to get above that line, we are going to keep fighting.”
Despite his superb goal, former England man Zamora is not able to train fully and now faces a battle to be fit for the Villa game.
Ramsey said: "Bobby hardly trains and sometimes it's hard to get the continuity between him and Charlie (Austin), or whoever plays up front.
"At the moment it's needs must. We have an outstanding medical staff and Bobby will go into some programme over the weekend to get him ready for Tuesday.
"I would imagine, had he not had the injuries he's got, he would finish every game. At the moment, we have to take him off at a certain time.
"Bobby is very important in the changing room, a seasoned professional."
