St James Park, Exeter

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Exeter v QPR

Thursday, 11 July 2013, 19:30

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Nelsen hails Redknapp impact

Ryan Nelsen has hailed Harry Redknapp for making an instant impact at QPR and backed him to steer the club clear of relegation.

Last Updated: 28/11/12 at 14:56 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League Relegation 12/13. Click here to bet.

Ryan Nelsen: Backing Harry Redknapp to drag QPR away from the relegation zone

Ryan Nelsen: Backing Harry Redknapp to drag QPR away from the relegation zone

The R's held Sunderland to a goalless draw on Tuesday night, which was just their second clean sheet of a league campaign that has seen them make the worst start of any team in Premier League history.

QPR are 14 points adrift of safety following Aston Villa's win over Reading, but Nelsen believes Redknapp - who signed him for Tottenham last season - can rescue the club from the drop.

"I know Harry and that him and his staff will be doing their utmost to get us points," said the New Zealand international.

"Obviously, he hasn't had much time. He is still getting to know every player.

"He has to cast his own eye on everyone and that won't happen overnight. He is just trying to keep everyone positive.

"None of us has been in this position before. It's horrible but Harry will bring in his own ideas, bring in some confidence.

"We just have to start producing on the field and get some points."

QPR are winless with more than a third of the season gone and Nelsen admitted they needed to win at least 10 of their remaining 24 games to stand any chance of survival.

"Of course, it is going to be very difficult but anyone watching us against Sunderland would not have known which side were at the bottom of the table. We will have to get 10 more wins at least," he said.

"We can't worry about other teams winning or losing.

"We just have to concentrate on ourselves and just try to win as many games as we can.

"That's all we have to do, try to go on a run, try to secure wins and points and after 38 games we will just have to see where we are."

QPR finally sent out an SOS to Redknapp last week after agonising over sacking Hughes.

The Welshman was said to have made a real impact behind the scenes at Loftus Road as Rangers bid to become a Premier League club both on and off the field.

New Zealand captain Nelsen has particular reason to be grateful to Hughes, who brought him to English football from Major League Soccer almost eight years ago.

The pair spent three-and-a-half years together at Blackburn and were reunited this summer when Nelsen moved to Loftus Road after being released by Spurs.

"It was very sad to see Mark go because he has transformed QPR," Nelsen said.

"It may not look like it from the outside but, inside, it's a different club.

"It's a Premier League club now but, unfortunately, the results didn't go for him and I felt really bad for him.

"Harry has come in and his credentials speak for themselves. It is up to us now to bring in results for him, start producing on the field and getting some points."

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