Play-off or pay-off for Paulo?

By Ben Kosky DEFIANT Paulo Sousa believes QPR can still make the top six – even though his job hangs by a thread after Tuesday s defeat to Norwich. Sousa could be sacked if Rangers – now on their worst run of the season –fail to revive their flagging play

By Ben Kosky

DEFIANT Paulo Sousa believes QPR can still make the top six - even though his job hangs by a thread after Tuesday's defeat to Norwich.

Sousa could be sacked if Rangers - now on their worst run of the season -fail to revive their flagging play-off hopes against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Ruthless co-owner Flavio Briatore, who has already dismissed three managers in just 18 months, has made it clear that a third successive home loss will not be tolerated.

Despite losing 1-0 to the struggling Canaries at a rain-soaked Loftus Road, Sousa insisted: "When you have the mathematical possibility, until that moment we need to believe.

"Norwich made one shot and one goal. Sometimes football is like that - it doesn't give you what you deserve, but we lose with the heads held high.

"We played great football with difficult conditions and I'm very proud of my team. When we start to score we will win the games, I have no doubt about that."

Unfortunately Rangers fans are unlikely to share Sousa's confidence after watching a performance that was by no means their worst at home under the Portuguese, but still ranked as untidy and uninspiring.

While Sousa is still popular with the majority of QPR supporters, the stark truth is that the team have gone NOWHERE since he took charge at the end of November.

Rangers are actually a place lower in the table than they were when Sousa arrived and have taken 23 points from 18 league games in that time.

In terms of points per game, that is an inferior return compared to the average during the brief reign of Iain Dowie - and, for that matter, the caretaker managership of Gareth Ainsworth.