QPR vs Swansea preview - Next two games crucial - Hill

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by PA

Clint Hill has warned his QPR team-mates they cannot continue to rely on others slipping up if they are to avoid Barclays Premier League relegation.

Results went Rangers' way over the Easter weekend as all their rivals lost on Saturday ahead of their own controversial 2-0 defeat at Manchester United the following afternoon.

QPR even stretched their goal-difference advantage over third-bottom Blackburn by one, but defender Hill has insisted it is time for them to take charge of their own destiny - starting with Wednesday's home game against Swansea and Saturday's trip to West Brom.

He told his club's official website, www.qpr.co.uk: "We're in a better position heading into tomorrow night than we were before the weekend, with the way the results and the goal difference went.

"The results at the weekend went in our favour, but the next two games are the biggest of our season so far.

"Hopefully, we can take the form of our last two home games into the next two fixtures."

Rangers will kick off back in the drop zone if Blackburn avoid defeat against Liverpool on Tuesday.

Earlier this season, you would not have bet on Mark Hughes' men reacting to that in the right manner in a game at Loftus Road.

But having secured thrilling victories over Liverpool and Arsenal in their last two matches, they will fancy their chances against a Swansea side who are on their worst run of the season after losing three successive games.

Hill said: "They're safe now, so hopefully we can take advantage of that.

"We're at home, so we'll always fancy ourselves.

"It's a small pitch, which suits us perhaps more than it will suit them.

"We know they'll have a lot of possession, but hopefully we can take our chances when they come."

Hughes also branded his side's home form as key to their survival hopes.

And the Rangers boss declared it was time for the squad assembled at so much expense - which he added to following the dismissal of Neil Warnock in January - to resume their late-season surge.

"We have three home games that are going to be key for us," said Hughes, whose side also entertain Tottenham and Stoke before the end of the campaign.

"We are playing exceptionally well at home.

"If we can get maximum points from those [games] and pick up something on our travels, hopefully that will be enough."

Bobby Zamora and Joey Barton will return to the starting line-up.

The pair were omitted for Sunday's defeat at Manchester United but Zamora has now recovered from a virus.

Barton was one booking away from a two-match ban but is now clear of that worry and could replace Shaun Derry if the club's appeal against the red card he was shown at Old Trafford is unsuccessful.

Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair are set to return for Swansea. The duo, who have contributed 17 of Swansea's 35 league goals this term, were rested for the defeat against Newcastle on Good Friday.

Sinclair insists the players have not been affected by speculation linking manager Brendan Rodgers with a move away from the Liberty Stadium as they look to end a poor recent run at QPR on Wednesday night.

Swansea's passing style has won them plenty of plaudits in their maiden Barclays Premier League campaign, with notable victories over Arsenal and Manchester City adding to Rodgers' reputation. The 39-year-old Northern Irishman, who signed a new three-and-a-half year deal in February, has been linked with Tottenham, should Harry Redknapp leave to take charge of England, and Chelsea.

The most recent reports linking him with Spurs came prior to Swansea's trip to White Hart Lane, and defeats there and at home to Newcastle mean Swansea have now lost three on the trot ahead of their trip to the relegation-threatened Rs. But winger Sinclair, who is set to return to the side after being left out against Newcastle, says talk over the manager leaving has not unsettled the squad.

"We are just getting on with the job, we can't afford to think about where the manager is going to go in the summer, if he goes," he said. "He signed a new deal and the main thing is to listen to him and make sure we carry on as normal and keep playing our game.

"He is a great manager, he has changed this club and got us promoted in his first season. With all the things he has done he will get speculation about going to other places, but he enjoys it here.

"Players expect it. When you do well in the Premier League the spotlight is on you more than in the Championship. It's a much harder league and if you can do it at that level there will be speculation, but he is still Swansea manager."