PA PhotosHarry Redknapp is confident that his side can perform

Welcome back! With no FA Cup action thanks to that rather painful 4-2 defeat against MK Dons last month, it has been a balmy two weeks of pain-free football for QPR fans.

And it has not been too shabby for the first-team squad who have been winter training in Dubai during the mini-break.

It seems to have worked wonders with the confidence in the ranks - if the manager's latest missive in The Sun newspaper is anything to go by - as he is touting the idea that we can beat Man Utd on Saturday.

It's not likely, though, and the bookies are not hedging their bets: QPR are a rank outsider at 6/1 to beat the champions-elect at home. But stranger things have happened.

What the squad has lacked in recent weeks - well, alright, all season - is cohesion for 90 minutes. They play some beautiful stuff, but let in silly goals. Then they take on Man City and Tottenham at home and find the discipline and composure to grab two very handy and unexpected points.

This trip to Dubai was an absolute necessity. With players coming in and being thrown straight into the Premier League, it has been tough for Harry to get across what he is trying to do. The one time he has managed to do that - after the Liverpool defeat - we went and spanked Chelsea at home 1-0.

If there is any straw clutching to be had, the performance of Reading against Man Utd in the FA Cup at Old Trafford is worth clinging to - particularly as there is a good chance that Sir Alex Ferguson will rest a few players given the vital tie with Real Madrid in the offing.

And for those who believe one straw just isn't enough: what about Wigan's backs-to-the-wall victory against Man Utd at the tail end of last year that kickstarted their rise from their relegation hell into the relative safety of 15th place.

Maybe the fightback starts here. It's as good a place as any.

Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn

 

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