Ferguson: QPR should be higher

Alex Ferguson believes that battling QPR should be higher on the table as he prepares to welcome them to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Bottom-placed QPR are yet to win this season, collecting only four points from their opening 12 games.

They sacked Mark Hughes on Friday, replacing him with former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

“Changing the team and bringing 11 new players in the Premier League is not easy but I’m surprised they’ve only got four points,” Ferguson said of the Rangers season so far.

“I didn’t expect them to immediately set a blazing trail. I didn’t think they would be up the top of the league or anything.

“I thought they might be middle of the league with 11 new players, bed them in and work from there, but they’ve only got four points and that created its own headlines.”

However, Ferguson has his own concerns after United’s 1-0 defeat to Norwich last weekend and he showered praise on the Canaries’ performance.

“Analysing our defeat last week is quite interesting. Looking at it over and over again you have to say that I’ve not seen a team run as hard as that in my life. Norwich were fantastic,” he said.

“They were like (Athletic) Bilbao last year and the running they did. Full credit to them, they deserved the win, when you work as hard as that.

“I always say 1-0 (wins) represent consistency. I always think when we get 1-0 victories on the road to a title we can see them as important results. And I think that is what’s happened to Norwich.

“They’re galvanised a bit. I think Chris Hughton has done a terrific job and I couldn’t deny them the victory last week.”

The 70-year-old Ferguson has reached 26 years in charge of Manchester United and chief executive David Gill unveiled a statue of the Scot outside Old Trafford on Friday to mark the milestone.

“It’s a proud moment. Normally people die before people see their statue. I’m outliving death!” Ferguson said.