QPR coach Joe Jordan refuses to give up on Premier League survival

The Hoops are bottom of the league

Harry Redknapp reacts after QPR’s defeat to Aston Villa (Reuters)

First-team coach Joe Jordan is certain QPR possess the attacking threat to fire themselves to Barclays Premier League survival.

Following defeat at Aston Villa before the international break, QPR stand seven points adrift of safety heading into the final eight games.

That deficit could be widened further by the time Harry Redknapp's men tackle west London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage on Easter Monday.

However, Jordan insists that with the likes of Bobby Zamora and £8million French frontman Loic Remy, the Hoops - with seven goals in their past three matches - have what it takes to pull off what would be a remarkable escape.

"We have the players now that are capable of taking the game to the opposition," former Scotland star Jordan told club website http://www.qpr.co.uk.

"Bobby is back fit, Remy is back in - we have a depth there now that we didn't have (before).

"When we arrived here we could only really play in a certain way, but that has changed now.

"We had to defend and play on the break, whereas now we can take the game to the opposition when it is needed.

"Performance-wise, we are improving all the time and there is a belief in the camp, because we are playing well.

"The performance (at Aston Villa) last week was excellent. Going forward that was the best we have played since we have got here.

"There are eight games ahead of us and there are games we think we can win.

"Harry has been in circumstances like this before and I have worked with him during those. Harry's teams have achieved what we are asking these players to go and achieve in these last eight games for QPR.

"The possibilities (of survival) are there - we have just got to make sure we don't create our own problems.

"If we can play the way that we have played recently we will score goals, we have just got to make sure those goals win us games."

QPR had plenty of the first-team squad away on World Cup qualifying duty, including defender Tal Ben Haim who played in Israel's 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast last night.

Redknapp, meanwhile, watched goalkeeper Julio Cesar play for Brazil in their international friendly draw with Russia at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.

QPR defender Fabio da Silva maintains the squad are focused on delivering the required performance at Craven Cottage to kick-start their survival bid.

Speaking to QPR Player, the 22-year-old on-loan Manchester United full-back said: "We have played well in the last few games, but the result against Aston Villa did not come.

"Now, though, we have to forget those results, they are history, and focus on the next one which is the most important.

"It (survival) is hard, but not impossible, we have to go from game to game.

"We must not think about the five games we have to win, we just have to get the three points in the next one, then look to the game after that.

"We 100% believe we can stay in the Premier League."

PA