Cisse throws QPR a lifeline

QPR were effectively one minute away from the Championship yesterday before Djibril Cisse’s late strike kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

They need one more point to guarantee safety, but since their final game is away to Manchester City, and they have the Premier League’s worst record on the road, they are likely to find themselves relying on Bolton failing to win their last match, which is, coincidentally, away to Stoke.

In Rangers’ favour will be the fact that Stoke are obviously not yet in the mood to hit the beaches. Yesterday they made life difficult for the home side, who struggled to create openings until late on.