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Can Harry Houdini pull off another great escape with QPR?
HARRY REDKNAPP received the perfect birthday present yesterday as he watched QPR give themselves a glimmer of hope of staying in the Premier League.
Redknapp returned to Southampton – the club he left under a cloud eight years ago – to mastermind Rangers’ crucial 2-1 success, thanks to goals from Loic Remy and Jay Bothroyd.
Redknapp was jeered and booed throughout the game by the angry Saints supporters. But he punched the air in delight at the final whistle, knowing he could yet pull off another Harry Houdini act.
The QPR boss also went to great lengths to dismiss suggestions his players were out partying during a recent trip to Dubai.
He said: “It’s an absolute load of nonsense. There were six or seven teams out there and we were the only ones who trained every day.
“We did not have one day off. The doctor said I was working them too hard. I worked the socks off them. I let them go out one night.
“This has come from someone who has tried to disrupt the club. I know where this came from, the chairman knows. I know his reasons. It has not come from players, it has come from a football agent.”
We’ve got a chance of escaping relegation but it’s still going to be difficult,
Redknapp said he felt the allegations had helped unite the squad and quipped: “I might take them back to Dubai for another week, take them out drinking, lie around the pool, why not? It might be a good idea. Why not?”
As for escaping relegation?
“We’ve got a chance but it’s still going to be difficult,” he said.
It was only Rangers’ third league win of the season and, although they stay rooted to the foot of the table, they moved within four points of Wigan in 17th spot.