Queens Park Rangers’ manager Gareth Ainsworth has admitted his players are feeling the pressure ahead of their Championship showdown with Leicester City tomorrow.
The Hoops are in the midst of a dreadful run of form, which has seen them lose their last five fixtures. They have failed to record a win since beating Middlesbrough in early September, leaving Ainsworth on the brink.
The last team they would want to come up against at the moment is runaway leaders Leicester, who currently top the table with 36 points from a possible 39. In stark contrast, QPR have just eight and only Sheffield Wednesday are keeping them from sitting bottom of the pile.
It is claimed that Ainsworth is on borrowed time and he could face the axe should he fail to get anything out of the next three fixtures before the international break next month. However, the former Wycombe Wanderers boss remains upbeat and has challenged his players to put on an unexpected good performance at Loftus Road tomorrow. Speaking to the official club website, the 50-year-old said;
“I just want the players to enjoy their football and be able to make clear and sensible decisions.
“Pressure and fear can manifest itself in many ways. I need to have them playing at Loftus Road without that fear and to just play to the best of their ability, which I don’t think I’ve seen at home.
“It would be just like QPR to put in a performance against Leicester which no pundit expects. Hopefully that’ll be the case on Saturday.
“Both of the moments which led to the goals on Tuesday were probably a result of stress and that’s understandable.”
Continuing, Ainsworth admitted his players are feeling the strain, but urged them to let him take the brunt;
“The boys are feeling the pressure because of where we are – but as I have always done, I will tell them to let me deal with that.”
Many will see tomorrow as a free hit, although they will be expected to get something out of their clash against fellow strugglers Rotherham United next weekend.
Writer’s View
Gareth Ainsworth knows he is a man under mounting pressure, but it is admirable to see him take the heat off his players. It’s been a torrid time at Loftus Road since giving up over a decade at Wycombe to return to the club he enjoyed such success at as a player, but it hasn’t quite worked out.
Anything more than a defeat tomorrow would be seen as a huge stepping stone against the team that is by far the best in the division, but it is a scenario which seems highly unlikely. Expect a comfortable Leicester win.
