Faced with a 12-match winless streak, Gareth Ainsworth would have been aware of the importance of collecting something from Saturday’s meeting with Watford.
A draw may have been deemed acceptable to get another point on the board against promotion candidates, but an early goal from Tim Iroegbunam secured a maximum return for the Hoops.
Although it is just one result in isolation, QPR are now 10 points above the safety line with 10 matches left, heaping further pressure on the teams below them.
While Ainsworth will want to finish the season as high as possible, he will know that three wins from the run-in will realistically guarantee their second-tier status, allowing him to place more focus on building for 2023-24.
Nevertheless, QPR have not won back-to-back fixtures since October, a streak which Ainsworth and his squad would like to break ahead of travelling to a direct rival.
Since Mick McCarthy’s arrival at Blackpool, there have been positive aspects about some of the club’s performances and results, yet they have not done enough in the more favourable matches on their schedule.
An away fixture at Bristol City did not necessarily fit that criteria, but the Tangerines failed to make the most of holding their hosts for almost an hour, an outstanding finish from Andreas Weimann setting the Robins on their way to a 2-0 triumph.
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As a result, Blackpool head into this fixture sitting six points behind 21st position, and McCarthy knows that he and his team must take advantage of playing six of their remaining 10 games at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool are five matches unbeaten on familiar territory, although four of those encounters have ended in stalemates which have ultimately not helped their cause.
With Blackpool forward Gary Madine suffering a knee injury at the weekend, Morgan Rogers or CJ Hamilton could be used in the final third.Kenneth Dougall is expected to remain on the substitutes’ bench due to the threat of a two-man ban for 10 yellow cards, but Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino may be considered for a recall
