Charlie Crowhurst/Getty ImagesAndros Townsend's rocket helped QPR secure a vital three points.

That's the trouble with being in a relegation dogfight; you just don't know where to look.

At Loftus Road, in a game of not so much two halves but four quarters, two sides very low on confidence battled to outdo each other in ineptitude.

In the end, the difference between the two sides was a bit of a surprise: Two classy goals from the team that has been bottom since pretty much the start of the season.

What is worth noting that in beating Sunderland 3-1 at Loftus Road on Saturday, all three QPR goals were scored by players that arrived in the January transfer window.

- QPR revival continues

If there ever was a game to highlight how important Tony Fernandes' business was at the beginning of the year, then this was it.

Loic Remy got the side back on terms, before Andros Townsend (loan) and then Jermaine Jenas made sure of back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since promotion in 2011.

In fact, without them, lordy only knows where QPR would be with just nine games to go in the Premier League. Because the fact remains that QPR remain bottom of the league despite a turnaround in results in the last two games.

The problem with being in the relegation places is that the only way out of the pickle is for someone else to cook up a loss.

So, Aston Villa beating Reading was a blow as it means we are still four points off safety -- albeit no longer adrift.

There was solace in Wigan's surprise win at Everton in the FA Cup, which guarantees that the Latics will be playing catch-up in the league and will, perhaps, have their minds on a semifinal at Wembley when they come to Loftus Road (which will now be under the lights as the fixture was slated for that semifinal weekend).

Against Sunderland, the first half was a schizophrenic affair with QPR looking nervy. It almost came as no surprise that Steven Fletcher put the visitors ahead against the run of play. And the home side's confidence looked at rock bottom until Remy pounced on a deflection to finish with aplomb and send the teams in at halftime on level terms.

Again QPR started slowly -- one wonders if that is to be expected for a side that is still fairly new -- but once Townsend had volleyed home a screamer, the team was in full flow. Jenas' goal meant that there was to be none of the nerve-fraying tension like last time QPR won at home, against Fulham.

All it means, though, is we get to do it again -- the must-win game -- this time away to Aston Villa next week. A win at Villa Park, and most people would genuinely begin to believe.

Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn

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