Hoops believe again after beating Birmingham

Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway was ‘bursting with pride’ after seeing his side run out 4-1 winners over Championship rivals Birmingham City.

Matt Smith’s first goal for the club gave Hoops a first-half lead at St Andrew’s, with Conor Washington firing home a second soon after the restart.

Substitutes Idrissa Sylla and Yeni N’Gbakoto, with a stunning long-range free-kick, then made it 4-0 late on, before Gianfranco Zola’s beleaguered Blues grabbed a last-gasp consolation.

And Holloway was delighted to see his side ease their relegation fears as they moved seven points clear of the drop zone, telling the club’s official website: “I’m bursting with pride. We showed glimpses of that performance last week and the last couple of weeks.

“It was disappointing not to keep a clean sheet right at the end, but to a man, the boys looked like they believed in themselves, they believed in what they were doing.

“They looked like they understood what we were doing and took it on.

“When we had to change something, there were no questions. When it got tough, they still did it. And we’ve got a fantastic result at the end of it.

“Our supporters, even before the start of the game, were really great. They were upbeat, even though we hadn’t got the right results. They can see that the lads are wearing that shirt with pride.

“You have to work hard, that’s where it starts. Aren’t we working hard?”

It was a first win in six matches for Hoops, who had taken just two points from a possible 15 since their win at Reading.

They have now collected 21 points on the road this season, compared to 16 at Loftus Road, and sit in 16th place ahead of the visit of struggling Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

And Holloway feels there is a new-found belief in the camp, as well as a willingness to work hard, with 14 matches still to be played this season.

He added: “I’m delighted for everybody. My job was to make everyone play. And they’re playing at the minute, they’re running around for each other, putting their foot in, believing we can score.

“The great thing for me is that I’ve also got a group of players who aren’t involved and that’s the secret.

“Everybody has to do a stint, we all gave to go to work. The players certainly did and everyone who wasn’t involved took it the right way. Everyone knows what we’re all trying to do. I think it’s crystal clear.

“You can’t always guarantee a good result, but I can guarantee that we’re going to have a right run around, no matter what happens!”