THEY may be in 14th place and seven points off the sixth place play-off spot that Ipswich also covet, but QPR have not given up hope of forcing their way into contention for promotion.

Derek Davis

THEY may be in 14th place and seven points off the sixth place play-off spot that Ipswich also covet, but QPR have not given up hope of forcing their way into contention for promotion.

On loan Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is adamant that Rangers can still be contenders, even though they dropped two points in a draw last weekend to fellow challengers Wolves, but is also aware they could slip back into trouble.

Mancienne said: “I think it's definitely still a possibility. We've got to keep going, keep strong and win our next couple of games.

"It's just so close - teams like us are literally just two wins from the play-offs and two losses from being back in trouble.

"We don't feel like Saturday was a defeat, but considering they scored with literally 20 seconds to go, we should have won it. We've got to be ruthless and maintain that lead.”

Rangers allowed the lead to slip on three occasions - the second of them when Mancienne was controversially ruled to have brought down Wolves' Matt Jarvis inside the penalty area and they equalised for a 3-3 draw.

The 20-year-old defender, who played his part in a goalless draw for England Under 21s against Poland on Tuesday, appreciates a further slip at Ipswich tomorrow will end their hopes but vows to be more ruthless if they can take the lead.

He said: “Ipswich will be a difficult game, but we've got to go there, show the same kind of character as we did at Wolves and finish off the game this time."

Mancienne is on loan at Loftus Road from neighbours Chelsea until the end of the season but is unclear what his future holds after that with a number of Championship clubs, including Ipswich, understood to be keen on making his a permanent signing.

QPR will be without defender Martin Delaney who is banned, but will welcome back Hogan Ephraim from a suspension, for the trip to Portman Road.