Friday 5 December 2014 18:50, UK
QPR manager Harry Redknapp thinks there is a “gulf in class” which makes it hard for the Premier League’s lesser lights to compete with the title contenders.
Redknapp’s team are facing a crunch clash at home to Burnley on Saturday, both sides having been promoted from the Championship at the end of last season.
Leicester were the other side to earn promotion last term but the trio are struggling in their new surroundings and currently occupy the three relegation places.
And Redknapp says it is no surprise that the three promoted teams are finding it tough going.
"It is hard for clubs like Leicester, Burnley and QPR,” he said.
It is hard for clubs like Leicester, Burnley and QPR. Eight players that played for us against Swansea on Tuesday played in the Championship last year and came up through the play-offs.
"Eight players that played for us against Swansea on Tuesday played in the Championship last year and came up through the play-offs.
“Man City have beaten Sunderland 4-1 and Southampton 3-0 (in their last two matches). They are on another level, they can go away with 10 men and win 3-0.
"That tells you the difference in quality between Man City, Chelsea, even Arsenal. They've got massive budgets and top players.
“That’s how it goes in this division, it is so hard to win games. There is a gulf in class.
“At the start of the year you can predict those challenging for the Champions League and I think it will still be four from the seven we expected to be there.”
QPR have fared terribly away from home this term and are still without an away point after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Swansea but they are back at Loftus Road this weekend and Redknapp remains upbeat.
"There's not much in it at the bottom,” he said. “If you look at the teams, Burnley are very much the same team that came up last year and we're the same.
"Leicester were definitely the best team in the Championship last year and they're down with us as well.
"We're going OK. We need to pick up some points away but our home form has been excellent.
"It's going to be tight, it'll be a tight bottom third of the league this year.
"It's been difficult, we've played good teams and we've found it hard. There's not too many teams down the bottom who have got results away from home.
"The games we've played have all been against good clubs who have been up there in the top eight.
"Maybe we have to find a system that will get us a result somewhere but we've tried everything, every system in the book.
"You have to keep going, it'll turn, we'll pick up a result away from home when you probably least expect it.
"First and foremost though, we have to concentrate on our home form this at weekend and get a result against Burnley."
