COOKING UP A STORM
As Hoops find form at last, defender warns relegation rivals to watch their backs
STEVE COOK reckons it is “squeaky bum time” for plenty of Championship clubs – but not for QPR.
Rangers have now claimed three straight wins to move up to 19th although they are just goal difference above the bottom three.
Their form combined with the fighting spirit of several other sides including Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield has set things up for a thrilling battle for survival.
Watford in 12th are only six points ahead of Stoke, who occupy the final relegation place, and the Hoops.
Now Cook reckons the pressure is on sides who seemed comfortable in mid-table rather than QPR who have been fighting down at the bottom throughout the campaign.
The veteran ex-Bournemouth defender, 32, said: “We know what we need to do.
“It’s squeaky bum time for those sides just above us. You have a few teams that thought they were safe and now they are looking over their shoulders.
“We’ve been in this situation for the majority of the season and we’re confident. The group is
really galvanised, results obviously help. Our manager Marti Cifuentes has instilled a lot of belief in the players, individually and as a collective.
“We’re giving everything. We only have 11 games to go and are trying to make sure QPR are in the Championship next season.
“With fight like that, it could go a long way.
“We will keep worrying about ourselves and not other results.”
Saturday’s triumph at Leicester came against the odds as QPR really took their chances.
Ilias Chair netted on 38 minutes before Sinclair Armstrong scored with his first touch 12 minutes after the break.
Ben Nelson pulled one back for Leicester who did not look like themselves.
Chair’s tap-in, from Lyndon Dykes’ cross, came just over a week after he was jailed for assault before subsequently appealing. Chair has played in both games since and Cook said: “This has
been going on in the background for some time now.
“But Ilias is a very strong character and he’s performed on the pitch. We will support him when he needs to be supported.
“But his personal life is not really news for us, we will just keep him happy and help him keep performing and scoring goals.”
Leicester are now just three points ahead of second-placed Ipswich and have a five-point advantage on Leeds who occupy third.
They have lost their way with boss Enzo Maresca (below) knowing that tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland is absolutely vital.
He said: “Playing so soon can be a good thing and a bad thing because you do not have time to think, but the bad thing is that you don’t have time to rest.”