Exclusive: Lucas Andersen highlights QPR advantage over Birmingham, Plymouth, Stoke & others in relegation battle | OneFootball

Highlights

With just eight Championship games left of the current campaign, QPR are just outside the relegation zone thanks to a run that has seen them lose just one game since the middle of February.

It's been a tough campaign for the Hoops, but there's genuine belief that they can spring a surprise and stay in the division after a tough start to the season, which meant that they've been relegation favorites throughout.

Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Sunderland saw them pick up a crucial point on the road and means that they're now one point and two places above the drop zone.

It's been some turnaround under Martí Cifuentes, who took the reins at Loftus Road at the end of October, and if he can keep the club up he'll rightfully be lauded by QPR's supporters as well as across the EFL.

Lucas Andersen on QPR's survival hopes

Danish international Lucas Andersen joined the Hoops in February after terminating his contract at Danish side Aalborg, where he had worked with Cifuentes before.

His arrival has coincided with a good run of form for the Hoops, and Andersen has only been part of the losing side twice since his move to West London.

The former Ajax attacking midfielder believes that the other clubs being drawn into the relegation battle won't be as used to the pressure as his side, as QPR have been battling relegation all season, meaning his side are battle-hardened.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, via CopyBet, He said: "I think that’s what you want a little bit, that everybody feels the pressure, everybody feels the stress.

"In the beginning, there were two or three teams, but we put on a good rally, and now it’s like eight or nine teams (in the relegation battle). That’s only healthy for a competition, and it’s healthy for us as well that we feel there are more teams involved.

“We’ve been a part of it ever since I came, so we know the feeling of having to win a game, have to get a result, have to score goals and not concede. Some of the other teams probably felt they were quite safe, but now they have to, towards the end of the season, start to cope with that feeling. "If they lose a couple of games, and we keep on taking the points that we’re taking, then I think they will experience the real stress.

“All the factors, the mental and on-pitch, that’s the beauty of football, even though it can be stressful when you’re in it. You want something to play for as a footballer and these are the periods where you will grow both as a human being and as a football player.”

Despite having only joined the club last month, Andersen has heaped praise on the QPR supporters who have helped their side exit the relegation zone, and have given them a chance of staying up.

Prior to Cifuentes' arrival, the Hoops had a dreadful home record, but they've started winning more games at Loftus Road as the season has progressed.

“It’s what football is all about. It’s for the fans, it’s entertainment," said the Danish international.

“Some people are paying money to watch so that’s what you want to do, get them excited, get the crowd going and feel the boost on the pitch, because that’s what will carry you through the minutes.

“Even though you’ve taken a 100-metre sprint, the boost of the fans is what gives you the energy to finish it off. I think that’s a very important factor, that you’re close with the fans.

“It’s also what builds confidence. You feel that it’s not only your teammates, not only the club, not only the coach believing in you, but you feel there is support from all over the stands. “From what I have experienced, I feel it is amazing. It’s the whole stadium, everyone is working together for one main target and I think that’s something that you only see in football in this way.

“I think everyone is moving closer together to make sure we do everything we can to perform and make sure we stay in the league.”

With just eight games remaining, every point will be crucial, but with games against relegation rivals such as Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle to come, there will be opportunities for the Hoops to try and pull away from the bottom three.

Andersen said: “Right now we just need to focus on the coming games.

"We can’t say: ‘Oh we need to beat this team’. It’s important that you are very short-term on your goals because it will be an uphill battle from now until the end of the season.

“I’ve been a part of it twice, and I know all these different state of mind phases that you can get into, and you can be so romantic about this and that, but at the end of the day, you have to take it day by day and make sure you do everything you can to perform. “Then you can hopefully perform very well to make sure you’re in a position where it’s in your own hands.

"That’s what we’re going to do and that’s what we’ll do everything we can to achieve, but we are very short-term minded in our performances and our focus towards the games coming.”

QPR's Championship run-in

QPR are next in action when they host Birmingham City on Good Friday at Loftus Road. The fixture against the Blues is the definition of a relegation six-pointer, with John Eustace's side just one point below.

The three games after that will also be crucial, with a trip to 15th-place Swansea City followed by games against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle.

Things then get a lot tougher for Cifuentes' side with fixtures against play-off-chasing Hull City, Preston and Coventry City, as well as a game against title-chasing Leeds.

The next four games are absolutely crucial, and if they can pick up at least three wins, they'll put themselves in a position where they may not have to worry as much about the four tough games that follow.

It's set to be a dramatic finale, but with eight games remaining, the Hoops have more than a fighting chance of preserving their Championship status.