Premier League preview: QPR v Wolves

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is steeling his side for a crunch away trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

The Midlands outift are second from the bottom of the English Premier League, three points above cellar dwellers Wigan, and level on 18 points with Blackburn, meaning they face a massive task to stave off relegation.

McCarthy knows the club’s plight is heading for crunch time.

“After the last home game there were huge rumours going round that I wasn’t going to be here the day after, so I can’t imagine there’ll be any less than there were then,” McCarthy said after the 3-0 home loss to Liverpool on Tuesday.

Wolves now face a massive double-header with QPR and West Bromwich Albion coming up, and McCarthy said he understood the anger of the fans.

“I fully understand that,” he said of the boos at the final whistle following the Liverpool loss.

McCarthy will be hoping Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong, a deadline-day loan arrival, can improve a Wolves defence that has leaked 43 goals this season.

QPR are also struggling, having won only once in the league in 2012, a 3-1 home victory over Wigan.

Manager Mark Hughes has been active in the January transfer window, signing strikers Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora, plus Taye Taiwo and Nedum Onuoha.

Cisse had an immediate effect, scoring after only 12 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

The French striker, a four million-pound signing from Lazio, is confident his new club can avoid relegation.

QPR are three points above the drop zone, but Cisse said the quality at the club means they will survive.

“I have absolutely no doubt that we can stay in the Premier League. I don’t want to hear that word (relegation),” Cisse said.

“We are a new team in the Premier League so it’s understandable that we make a few mistakes sometimes, but to get a point is a good performance.”