Harry Redknapp rather than Chris Ramsey must shoulder blame if QPR go down

However, as evidenced by a spirited performance in a scoreless draw against West Ham attests, QPR are a better side under Chris Ramsey than Harry Redknapp.

They were the more inventive side throughout and unlucky not to emerge with all three points after Charlie Austin missed a penalty and Richard Dunne had a goal disallowed.

There have certainly been more impressive resurgences. Vast improvements at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace garner more attention. However, if QPR stay in the Premier League then Ramsey’s achievement must not be underestimated.

He was sold a seriously dud hand by Redknapp and Tony Fernandes.

Redknapp, it appears, had some form of tantrum after his desires were not met during the January transfer window and unceremoniously resigned hours after the window closed, citing a bad knee.

Fernandes conducted a very public courtship of his desired Redknapp successor. Alas, that courtship proved folly as his "dream manager" failed to materialise. Probably because said dream manager was wary of sullying his reputation by assuming control of the utter mess Redknapp had left behind.

Let's make no bones about it. QPR are a mess. A mess that Ramsey has made a fine fist of dragging over the line.

The R’s have somehow managed for the second time in four seasons to put together a ramshackle squad bloated with players that are either far beyond their prime or not good enough.

How on earth can a club who have spent such vast amounts on transfer fees and wages rely on a back four containing Clint Hill and Richard Dunne? Gross mismanagement.

It is not too far a stretch to say - playing staff wise - Charlie Austin will be the only player to emerge from the season with his reputation enhanced.

Alan Pardew or Tim Sherwood have presided over more impressive spikes in results. However, there was far more scope for improvement following their respective appointments.

The playing staff at both clubs were, it could be argued, playing below their mean – improvements were easier to come by at those clubs.

At QPR, Ramsey came in already undermined by the very fact that it was abundantly clear he was not the first, second, third, fourth or even fifth choice. He oversaw an immediate improvement that saw QPR break their away day hoodoo with a 2-0 win at Sunderland in early February.

Performances dipped again during a losing streak. However, Ramsey has arrested that dip in performance, and, despite results not always reflecting that fact, QPR still have a very good shout of staying up.

If he manages to keep them in the league then it will be quite the achievement. This is not to dismiss the accomplishments of Sherwood or Pardew but Ramsey has had the manifestly more difficult job and has had to battle against momentum to get QPR within a hair’s breath of Premier League survival.

Results went against QPR on Saturday and they sit four points adrift of safety – they have four games left and Ramsey believes his side needs two possibly three wins. It looks a tough ask, but if they can replicate this performance level then they are in with a shout.

If they do go down, this is Redknapp’s team and he bears the brunt of the responsibility. Ramsey was left with a near impossible task.

Yet he will be afforded little credit if he achieves it.