QPR v Fulham - LIVE

Last updated : 15 December 2012 By DSG




Redknapp wants 'all hands on deck'

QPR manager Harry Redknapp wants his players to start fulfilling their potential as they look to end their winless streak against near neighbours Fulham.

Much had been expected from the Rs this season, with a number of high-profile names brought in to much fanfare during the summer.

Those acquisitions have not had the desired effect, though, and last weekend's draw at Wigan saw their winless start to the season stretch to 16 matches, breaking the Premier League record in the process.

However, having picked up three draws since succeeding Mark Hughes at the helm, Redknapp is hopeful of that first elusive win against the Cottagers.

"We've got what we've got," he said. "This is the team I have been given.

"That is what I have got to work with and I am just concerned about getting the best out of them.

"I can't look and see where Mark was with them. It is what I can try and do with the same group.

"If I can get the best out of them, that's all I can do. If, at the end of the day, it isn't good enough, I can't do anymore.

"But, at the moment, I am getting the best out of what they can give me and I feel we are close to getting that first win. Hopefully it will come tomorrow.

"It won't be easy as Fulham have done well. They are a tough team to beat, they've got some quality.

"It will be a difficult game but we're at home, it's a London derby. We've got to give everything we've got.

"We've got to give blood, sweat and tears tomorrow to try and get that win."

Redknapp will be unable to call upon Park Ji-sung against the Cottagers having sustained a knee injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, but goalkeeper Julio Cesar is back in contention after a groin complaint.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has been surprised by how poor neighbours QPR have been this season but believes Redknapp has the know-how to turn them around.

Jol believes anything is possible with Redknapp at the helm, highlighting an unlikely turnaround he oversaw when at the helm of RKC Waalwijk.

"At my second club they had three points at the end of November," the Dutchman said.

"It was the first time in history that a club had that amount of points and we still managed to stay in the league so that was good.

"The year after we were fourth with two other clubs so I think Harry can do a similar job.

"Harry has proved in the past that he is a very good manager, a fantastic manager, but it is a big challenge.

"I had the same in Holland so you can never write clubs off. I think they have got the quality.

"Do they have the mentality? I think it is something which is written in the stars but I think Harry is capable of coming up with a few very good results and then for them hopefully keep them up."

The Fulham boss was quick to highlight the fine line between success and failure in the Premier League epitomised by QPR's seven draws to date.

"Harry has been there for a couple of weeks now and they felt they need a response all the time," Jol said.

"They need a response now, we are aware of that. But they were quite close all the time even before Harry was there.

"They have seven draws so they could have had wins because I saw a couple of games where they were very unlucky with red cards.

"Not only once but twice or three times so they are in a difficult situation, but I feel there is a lot of games to go.

"You can get a lot of points on the board so you can never write them off."

Mahamadou Diarra is a major doubt for the trip.

The 31-year-old is struggling with a knock picked up against Tottenham and had two injections on Tuesday so is unlikely to be involved.

Simon Davies has returned to training but is some way off a first-team return from a long-term hip injury, while Bryan Ruiz faces a further month on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint.

Source: DSG

Source: DSG