QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth has urged his squad to prove the doubters wrong and boost their survival push by spoiling Burnley’s title party this weekend.
The Rs are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Championship and with three games to go they are just one point and one place above the relegation places.
They travel to table-topping Burnley on Saturday, who have already secured promotion but can lift the title if they beat QPR.
Ainsworth’s side are huge underdogs going into the game at Turf Moor and he wants them to use that as motivation.
“Everyone has written us off in this game and a lot of people have written us off in the league as well,” he said.
“I will be reminding the boys of that and making sure they don’t fear anything. That’s the attitude I want from them. For us, we see this as a massive opportunity to upset the formbook in a big way.
“It is going to be an intense atmosphere at a packed-out Turf Moor, but QPR tend to do well in these situations.
“We have got nothing to lose, everyone expects Burnley to win the title on Saturday and we are going to do everything we can to try and stop them.”
Back in October, it looked like QPR would be fighting Burnley for promotion this season as they were flying high at the top of the Championship.
The Rs’ campaign, however, has since taken a turn for the worse after head coach Michael Beale left for Scottish side Rangers in November.
Neil Critchley replaced Beale, but he was sacked after 12 games and Ainsworth was appointed in February to try and stop the slide.
Ainsworth has won just one of his 10 games at the helm since then, but is taking positives from Wednesday’s draw with Norwich.
“It was a real spirited performance in mid-week and if we can take that into this Burnley game then I feel we have a chance of spoiling the party,” he said.
“In moments like this, you need individuals to stand up to it and I am hoping the players’ inner-strength comes out as well as their intensity, their drive and their hunger. We will go there not afraid and we will be giving our all.”
