QPR forward eyes Chelsea and Spurs scalps

Thursday, September 13, 2012
4:33 PM

Jamie Mackie believes games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham represent the chance for Rangers to get their season off the ground.

Jamie Mackie believes it is time for QPR to get points on the board – starting with tomorrow’s visit to champions Manchester City.

Rangers return to the Etihad Stadium, the scene of their dramatic last-day survival last season, with one point from their first two league games against Norwich and Swansea.

The arrival of midfielder Esteban Granero has taken the number of new arrivals at Loftus Road this summer to 10, and Mackie admits that it will take time for the squad to develop understandings.

However, the Rs forward believes a trio of tough games to come against City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur represents the perfect opportunity to get their season up and running.

“We’re newly-formed, it’s another test and we need to start getting some points now,” said Mackie.

“It’s going to take a few weeks on the training ground for us to get to know each other and the shape that we play and what the manager expects from them.

“Extra quality will help the side but I think it takes a little bit of time to gel as a team and a squad.”

Mackie believes there is now the strength in depth in Mark Hughes’s side to cause problems for Roberto Mancini’s side, but he insists Rangers must adopt a patient approach.

“It’s more about us, how good our shape can be against them, being solid and seeing what we can get,” said Mackie.

“You can’t be too kamikaze against them because they will pick you off. They can score any chance. We’ve got to be solid and we’ll see how strong we are as a squad tomorrow in the way we play.”

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