QPR boss Chris Ramsey plays down meeting with Aston Villa's Tim Sherwood

Queens Park Rangers caretaker boss Chris Ramsey played down his first managerial encounter with Aston Villa counterpart Tim Sherwood.

The pair, who are good friends off the pitch and worked together at Tottenham at both under-21 and first-team level, but they will lead their respective clubs into a Premier League clash which will have a huge bearing on the relegation battle this season.

Rangers travel to Villa Park for Tuesday's clash on the back of a 4-1 victory over West Brom, a result which moves Ramsey’s side to within three points of their hosts.

The game really isn’t about me and Tim, it’s more about Aston Villa versus Queens Park Rangers

Ramsey is adamant the focus is purely on securing a victory which would lift his side above Villa and out of the relegation zone.

“It will be strange as the fact is that we'll probably have a pint later on in the week, but as far as going into the game I’m going there as a representative of Queens Park Rangers, and I’m sure he’ll be thinking the same as regards Aston Villa,” Ramsey said.

“The game really isn’t about me and Tim, it’s more about Aston Villa versus Queens Park Rangers.”

Before taking over at Villa Park in February, Sherwood was linked with vacancies at West Brom and QPR.

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While Ramsey claims it is no surprise Rangers were interested in the former Tottenham boss he insists he does not know how close Sherwood came to joining the west London club.

“I wasn’t involved in the negotiations so I don't know,” Ramsey said.

“Obviously I saw the speculation in the paper, and Tim’s a sought-after man. I thought he did really well at Tottenham, and there were a few clubs that were after him, and I’m sure that Villa did well getting him ahead of two or three other clubs that could have got him.

“I think that Tim did have negotiations with a few clubs, I’m not sure how far down the line he got with this club, but he was very sought-after when leaving Tottenham.

"And like I said, he done a very, very good job there, and any club in the league would have wanted him at that stage barring the top three or four.

“So, I’m happy for him that he’s gone to a big club like Aston Villa, and I’m sure that he’s going to do a good job.”