Realistic Redknapp is resigned to the drop after latest home loss

Harry Redknapp conceded defeat in his bid to keep QPR in the top flight, admitting it is now an “almost impossible” task for his side.

Rangers needed to beat fellow strugglers Stoke on Saturday to stand any realistic chance of the greatest of escapes but instead fell to a 2-0 defeat at Loftus Road.

Peter Crouch did the damage against his former club, opening the scoring in the first half before winning the penalty from which Jon Walters made sure of the three points.

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The defeat leaves QPR 10 points adrift of safety with only four matches remaining – a position Redknapp does not expect his side to recover from.

“It looks like that’s it,” the Rangers boss said. “It is almost impossible now.

“It is a big disappointment but even today I felt in the first half we were bang in the game.

“I was disappointed to come in at half-time 1-0 down as I thought we did okay in the first half.

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“But we lack a forward ball and without Bobby Zamora it is very difficult. We’ve got no real target up there. I thought we would still be in with a chance at this stage when I came in, but you don’t know until you get here and work with the team.

“You’re not sure what you’ve got, who is who and how they are.

“But I felt we’ve been in every game apart from Liverpool, who battered us here and were different class.

“Other than that, we’ve been in every game. It is just that little dividing line that makes the difference.”

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Wigan were left three points adrift of Aston Villa and safety after a 2-0 defeat at West Ham, goals from Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan doing the damage.

“There is no margin for error,” said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez afterwards.

“We have five games and we need probably three wins. That is something we can achieve.”

Elsewhere, Arsenal did their claims for third place no harm with a 1-0 win at Fulham courtesy of a goal from Per Mertesacker.

Bottom club Reading, however, seem destined to accompany QPR into the Championship after a 2-1 defeat at Norwich City. Sunderland won 1-0 at Everton.