Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

It took someone else to book QPR's place in next season's Championship. Unable to gain even a point on Saturday themselves, it took an equaliser from Sheffield United's Lee Williamson against close city rivals Wednesday to ensure that only one out of the latter team and Crystal Palace would now be able to catch the R's.

It was always looking unlikely, but not impossible, that Rangers could be drawn into the bottom three as they were already on 51 points, but it left them in clear need of at least one more win in their remaining three games; at home to Watford tomorrow, at Barnsley this weekend and then welcoming the promoted Toon Army on the final day.

That necessity is now removed and Neil Warnock already hinted on Saturday that should QPR be safe, he would take the opportunity to have a look at some of the youngsters in his squad, with Antonio German and Josh Parker (both late substitutes against Cardiff) now more than likely to figure. Another player hoping to be playing in all three games and one with a good chance of doing so, is defender Peter Ramage. He is keen to make as big an impression on Warnock as possible before the summer following his comments about the need for extra recruitment.

"The motivation for us is to be here next season," he said following the Cardiff game.

"He's (Warnock) come in and he's not had the chance to bring the players he wants to bring in so obviously he's going to do that over the summer and assess what he's already got.

"For the current squad we've got to try and perform to show him he doesn't need to strengthen in that particular person's area. That's my motivation, that's what I'm looking forward to towards now and the end of the season."

Surprisingly, Ramage is staking his claim at centre-back right now. In a stop-start season, which he went into as the club's first-choice right-back, he has seen himself nudged down the pecking order with players including midfielder Mikele Leigertwood often preferred on the right side of defence.

"That's down to me," he said.

"I haven't at times performed to the best of my ability. Or maybe the manager's gone in a different direction because of a certain game.

"I had the shirt at the start of the season and it was down to me to keep it and it has been frustrating being in and out. You have to make the best of the opportunities you get and give the manager a harder decision to drop you."

Following Damion Stewart's horrible injury at Crystal Palace just two games ago, Ramage was instantly switched to centre-back and his composed, assured display was a major factor in the R's priceless victory and also a rare clean sheet. He retained his place on Saturday against Cardiff and again, rarely put a foot wrong in a game which should at least have brought a point's return. He pointed out that he is naturally a centre-back over a full-back.
 
"It's my position if you want to say. I've come in, I've been playing right-back but I'll play anywhere and I'll give one hundred percent anywhere I'm asked to play.

"I've enjoyed the last two games and hopefully I'll get a chance towards now and the end of the season to show the manager what I can do in that position."

In a game in which QPR had the better of the goal-scoring chances and Adel Taarabt looked to be on a solo mission to find a winner, one of Cardiff's few ventures at goals was enough to separate the sides, Joe Ledley stealing in with a far-post header ten minutes from time.

"It was bitterly disappointing but then again we've paid the penalty for not taking our chances and conceding another sloppy goal at our end.

"It seems to be the story of our season to be honest and its one we can't wait to get over and done with. We've got to try and put right what we didn't do here on Tuesday night."

"The free-kick and the goal were the best chances they had to test Rad (Radek Cerny). And that is frustrating. Defensively I thought we played really well, obviously bar the goal, it was a shocking goal to concede."

Once Rangers have navigated the challenge of Watford and then Barnsley, they can look ahead to hosting likely champions Newcastle on the final day. Many will have imagined an all-out, hard-fought promotion decider on seeing the fixture list at the start of the season, but only the Geordie team could live up to the whirlwind of expectation around their club. Rangers' own promotion challenge evaporated a long time ago, but as a former Newcastle player himself, Ramage was insistent they will still give it their all on that final Sunday.

"We've got to turn up and perform. We're still going to go out and give one hundred percent for the shirt and hopefully give the fans the send-off they deserve because its been a tough season for them. Testing at times to say the least."