Stephane Mbia up for relegation battle at Queens Park Rangers

Mbia moved to Loftus Road from Marseille over the summer, with the Cameroon international among a number of high-profile acquisitions made by Mark Hughes.

He, like many of his fellow recruits, has been unable to steer QPR away from trouble this season, with the club still looking for their first win of the campaign and now working under the guidance of Harry Redknapp following the decision to relieve Hughes of his managerial duties.

Mbia's first taste of life in the Premier League has been far from pleasant, but the midfielder insists he retains full faith in both his ability and that of the club to generate positive results.

"I am very happy to be here with QPR," he told the club's official website ahead of Saturday's home date with fellow strugglers Aston Villa.

"I believe we have a good team and I am looking forward to this weekend."

Mbia, who has been asked to fill a variety of positions in an effort to aid the collective cause added: "I feel I will get better and better. I have played centre back, right back and midfield. My best will come when I have stability in my position.

"Is midfield my preferred position? I don't mind. What's important is that I help the team. I want to work hard for everybody, and the team is more important than anything else.

"I want to do my very best for the team and for the coach, in training and in matches. I want to see us winning games. I don't like to lose. When I lose I am not happy. All the players are the same."

On the battle which lies ahead for all of those connected with QPR, with the club sweating on their top-flight status, Mbia added: "The Premier League is very difficult, but we want to win on Saturday for the fans.

"We haven't won all season and this annoys me. It hurts. But it is a challenge and I want to help my team. I want to give everything, I want to give all my heart to this challenge."

Lambert out to spoil Harry debut

A Villa win will lift them 11 points clear of bottom-placed Rangers, who replaced Mark Hughes with Redknapp a week ago.

Lambert believes the pressure will be on QPR and hopes Villa can build on collecting four points from their last two games at home to Arsenal and Reading.

Lambert said: "Harry going in there will automatically give them a big lift because he is a brilliant manager.

"Everyone knows what Harry can do from the clubs he has been at during his career.

"QPR have an abundance of really good players, the crowd will be buoyant and will get behind him. You wish him well - but after tomorrow.

"The pressure is on QPR to make the running but we are definitely a threat, that's for sure.

"We would be happy to win the game for ourselves and keep them down there.

"We are certainly playing well enough to go and win. We are only a few points off mid-table. It is so tight in the bottom half of the table."

Lambert has great faith in Villa's crop of youngsters, and they fielded their most inexperienced Premier League line-up against Reading in midweek with an average age of 23 years and 324 days.

Striker Christian Benteke has been grabbing plenty of headlines for his goalscoring feats including the late headed winner against the Royals.

But Lambert has also been pleased with the impact of former Crewe midfielder Ashley Westwood, another of his summer signings.

Lambert said: "We have a really young team, our youngest side in the Premier League since it started, which bodes well for the future.

"The young lads have been exceptional since Sunderland. I couldn't ask for any more from them. We had a tough run with the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal.

"Benteke has been unbelievable for us and Ashley Westwood has been absolutely terrific. People like Ashley are maybe not getting the credit they deserve.

"He is playing unbelievable football, he never gives it away and that's from a young lad who has just come from Crewe. He's slotted in so well and stayed in the side."

Villa left-back Enda Stevens has been ruled out of the trip to Loftus Road with the ankle injury suffered during the midweek win over Reading.

Eric Lichaj is set to replace the former Shamrock Rovers player but skipper and centre-back Ron Vlaar remains a major doubt with a calf problem.

Jermain Defoe dismisses QPR link and wants to stay at Tottenham for rest of career

Speculation has emerged that the England striker is a top target for new QPR boss Harry Redknapp when the transfer window re-opens on New Year's Day.

But Defoe, Spurs' leading scorer this season with 10 goals in all competitions, claims he has no intention of linking up with Redknapp for the fourth time in his career.

"That's not going to happen. I'm not leaving Tottenham, I love the club and to score goals at a big club like this is fantastic," Defoe told Sky Sports News.

"If the opportunity comes to leave the club it won't be happening. I don't want to leave, I'm a Spurs player - and I'm happy. I'd like to finish my career at Tottenham. I want to achieve something special here - it's a great time to be at the club."

Spurs moved to fifth in the Premier League after Wednesday's 2-1 win over Liverpool, and Defoe is confident they can sustain their challenge for a Champions League place.

"I thought the performance against Live rpool was great. It was a massive win," he added. "Character is key and the lads who've come in have been fantastic. With the quality we've got it's important to go on a run and we're capable of doing that."

Defoe also offered his full backing to Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, who has struggled to win over the fans since succeeding Redknapp in the summer.

"It's difficult for any manager - when you come in you've got different ideas," said Defoe. "It wasn't the best at Chelsea but that happens. It's part of life and being a manager, but he's a fantastic manager and been fantastic for me.

"There's always a different approach each game and he's such a nice guy. All the lads want to fight and win for him. I'm just enjoying the journey and I'm sure he is as well."

Nelsen backs Harry's rescue bid

Redknapp masterminded Tuesday night's goalless draw at Sunderland, going some way to stopping the rot that had cost Mark Hughes his job as manager.

The clean sheet was only Rangers' second of a league campaign that has seen them make the worst start of any team in the division's history.

Aston Villa's win over Reading on Tuesday also meant Redknapp's new side ended the evening eight points adrift of safety after 14 matches.

But veteran defender Nelsen was confident afterwards that if anyone could rescue the club from the drop, it was the man who performed similar feats at Tottenham and Portsmouth.

Both clubs went on to thrive in the Premier League, with Nelsen playing under Redknapp at Spurs last season en route to them finishing in fourth place.

The 35-year-old said: "I know Harry and that him and his staff will be doing their utmost to get us points.

"Obviously, he hasn't had much time. He is still getting to know every pla yer.

"He has to cast his own eye on everyone and that won't happen overnight. He is just trying to keep everyone positive.

"None of us has been in this position before.

"It's horrible, but Harry will bring in his own ideas, bring in some confidence.

"We just have to start producing on the field and get some points."

QPR are winless with more than a third of the season gone and Nelsen admitted they needed to win at least 10 of their remaining 24 games to stand any chance of survival.

They went close to getting the first of those victories last night, having arguably been the better team against fellow strugglers Sunderland.

"Of course, it is going to be very difficult but anyone watching us against Sunderland would not have known which side were at the bottom of the table," Nelsen said.

"We will have to get 10 more wins at least.

"We can't worry about other teams winning or losing.

"We just have to concentr ate on ourselves and just try to win as many games as we can.

"That's all we have to do, try to go on a run, try to secure wins and points and after 38 games we will just have to see where we are."

QPR finally sent out an SOS to Redknapp last week after agonising over sacking Hughes.

The Welshman was said to have made a real impact behind the scenes at Loftus Road as Rangers bid to become a Premier League club both on and off the field.

New Zealand captain Nelsen has particular reason to be grateful to Hughes, who brought him to English football from Major League Soccer almost eight years ago.

The pair spent three-and-a-half years together at Blackburn and were reunited this summer when Nelsen moved to Loftus Road after being released by Spurs.

"It was very sad to see Mark go because he has transformed QPR," Nelsen said.

"It may not look like it from the outside but, inside, it's a different club.

"It's a Premier League club now but, unfortunately, the results didn't go for him and I felt really bad for him.

"Harry has come in and his credentials speak for themselves.

"It is up to us now to bring in results for him, start producing on the field and getting some points."

Redknapp: My toughest test yet

The former Tottenham boss has taken over a side rooted to the foot of the table, with just four points from 13 games and without a win all season.

He has saved Portsmouth from relegation and took a Tottenham side from bottom of the table to the Champions League the following season.

Be he said: "We mustn't kid ourselves, this is much tougher that those two jobs in my opinion, but I'm optimistic we can pull it off.

"I want to be successful here, really badly. I want to keep this team in the Premier League. If the players try as hard as I am going to try we'll be successful."

Redknapp confirmed a deal was being done to bring in long-time assistants Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond to assist him.

And he warned the players he would not tolerate a lack of effort.

"We've got to do better to give ourselves any chance of getting out of this mess," he said.

"I need 11 people with ability to put effort in. If they don't they're not goi ng to play and I'll get 11 people who do. I've got no time for people who lose the ball and stand their with hands in the air."

On the team spirit, he added: "The lads I met yesterday were all upbeat.

"They've got to realise they are in this position because they haven't really performed to their capabilities and they've got to do better.

"The players have to take responsibility for performances, they've got to up their performance level and get us out of trouble."

Redknapp accepted there would be no "wholesale spending" in the transfer window after the club recruited extensively during the summer, but admitted they were very short up front.

Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson are both long-term injury victims and the new boss said: "We are not overloaded with strikers here. That's certainly an area we are short in."

On the possibility of bring in David Beckham, he said: "I got a lovely text from David the other night, just wishing me well here.

"To have him at any football club would be a great influence on the club, but we've not discussed anything."

Redknapp insisted there would be no personality clashes with Adel Taarabt, whom he sold while manager of Tottenham.

"He wasn't a player I wanted to sell," he said. "He couldn't get in the team at Tottenham.

"I always felt he had the ability to become a top player. I've got to get the best out of him."

Tributes pour in for Sexton

Sexton took over the reins at Stamford Bridge from Tommy Docherty in 1967 and led Chelsea to a first FA Cup title in 1970 and a maiden European trophy the following season with victory over Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup final.

Sexton went on to manage Manchester United, again succeeding Docherty, while he also took QPR to within a point of a first top-flight title before spending much of his later career with the Football Association.

But it is for his exploits with Chelsea that he will be best remembered, and Harris, who played nearly 800 games for the Blues in the 1960s and 70s, praised his formidable coaching skills.

The 68-year-old said: "It's a sad day, especially for the players that played under him. He used to spend hours on the training field. He was the best coach I ever worked with. I've got some great memories."

In contrast to Docherty, Sexton was a calm and methodical man who was renowned for a technical approach to coac hing that saw him appointed the FA's first technical director at Lilleshall in the 1980s.

Harris said: "Dave was a very honest man who would pat you on the back. He came across as a bright lad. You knew when he was upset, you could see it in his face.

"He came from a boxing family and I don't think anyone would have taken him on in the boxing ring."

As well as his successes at Chelsea, Sexton also led the England Under-21 side to back-to-back European titles in 1982 and 1984, while his playing career included spells with West Ham, Luton, Leyton Orient, Brighton and Crystal Palace.

The FA's director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, said: "It is a sad day for English football.

"Anyone who was ever coached by Dave would be able to tell you what a good man he was but, not only that, what a great coach in particular he was.

"In the last 30-40 years Dave's name was up there with any of the top coaches we have produced in Engla nd - the likes of Terry Venables, Don Howe and Ron Greenwood. His coaching was revered."

There was a minute's applause before today's Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues paid their own tribute to Sexton, who was given an OBE for services to football in 2005.

"Chelsea Football Club would like to express our enormous sadness and send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dave Sexton, who has died aged 82," the statement read.

"Sexton is without doubt one of the greatest managers in Chelsea history having led the club to our first FA Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners' Cup a year later - our first European trophy."

Peter Bonetti, the Chelsea goalkeeper during the Sexton era, told chelseafc.com: "He was fantastic, I've got nothing but praise for him.

"He passed away peacefully last night. I've spoken to his wife and it's come as a complete shock because he was such a lovely man.

"Everybody loved him and everybody respected him here at Chelsea and he will go down in the club's history as being such a fantastic guy who brought us so much success.

"He was a football fanatic. It's so sad and I really can't believe it. Everything he did was fantastic, the fact we won the FA Cup in 1970 was a big memory."

QPR also expressed their sadness at Sexton's death, saying in a statement: "The club is desperately saddened to learn of the passing of former QPR manager Dave Sexton.

"The 82-year-old was appointed at the Loftus Road helm in October 1974 and adopted an unforgettable side, featuring the likes of Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis.

"Sexton was just a point shy of guiding Rangers to the 1975/76 league title - a position that still remains the club's highest league finish.

"The club would like to extend its deepest condolences to Dave's family and friends at this sad time. May he rest in peace."

TT's Premier Picks: Pardew under pressure

Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0

One week they score five, the next they look like it would take them a month to accumulate that tally. Arsenal were back to their Jekyll and Hyde best at Villa Park on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's men appear clueless when faced with the task of breaking down a stubborn side that is prepared to get men behind the ball and chase a point with their lives, rather than come at them and go all out for a win.

In fairness to Villa, they could have taken all three points against the Gunners, but Brett Holman saw a stinging late drive touched onto the crossbar by Wojciech Szczesny.

Villa probably did not deserve to win, but defeat for Arsenal may have offered them another kick up the backside - with past lessons failing to be heeded.

Olivier Giroud sits too deep to be a lone frontman, with it important for him to have pace and trickery in and around him if he is to pose problems.

Arsenal did have plenty of f lair on the field at Villa Park, but the likes of Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta endured afternoons to forget.

Wenger insists that he is not reading too much into increasingly common under-par performances from his side, but there is only so many dour goalless draws you can sit through before fingers start to be pointed - be that from the stands, which was the case on Saturday, or in the boardroom.

Chris Burton

Chelsea 0 Man City 0

New interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez was the subject of protests from fans at Stamford Bridge, where there was a negative atmosphere. The Spaniard must surely see this as unproductive and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to win over the club's followers.

Former Liverpool boss Benitez's appointment may be unpopular but he has already improved Chelsea's defending. The shielding work of Ramires and John Obi Mikel helped keep David Silva quiet as the European champions recorded a first clean sheet in 11 games.

Fernando Torres showed no signs of making an immediate improvement following the arrival of his former Liverpool boss, Benitez. The 50million striker's body language was again questionable and he hardly got a touch up against Vincent Kompany. It would be interesting to hear what Benitez thinks is wrong with Torres.

Pete Fraser

Everton 1 Norwich 1

No Plan B - that is the real feature that emerged from Everton's failure to beat Norwich. They started well, indeed almost dominated the opening 45-minutes at Goodison Park.

Their midfield was busy as they created a number of chances - but things were turned on their head in the second 45 as Norwich got to grips with the home side.

Steven Naismith and Stephen Pienaar buzzed around Nikica Jelavic - but he was soundly marked out of the game by Sebastien Bassong and Ryan Bennett, and with no outlet Everton were found wanting - if Europe is their aim, a big improvement and revised tactic book will be needed.

Norwich can take a huge amount of positives from the game, although they must be wary that most sides would have put them to the sword after their disappointing opening half.

Graeme Bailey

Man United 3 QPR 1

QPR stand-in manager Mark Bowen made five changes to the side who lost to Southampton in Mark Hughes' final game in charge and it made a clear difference.

There was a more committed spirit and defensive organisation in the first half. Will Harry Redknapp stick with these changes?

Darren Fletcher's header to make it 2-1 to United was a special moment for the Scot, who scored his first goal in more than a year after his career threatening chronic bowel problem. He also looked at home in midfield and could now be a regular starter.

QPR conceded three goals in eight minutes and set-pieces remain their Achilles Heel but it is also worth noting their collapse ca me shortly after Armand Traore had to leave the field. He was sorely missed.

Pete Fraser

Southampton 2 Newcastle 0

Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle handed Alan Pardew an eight-year contract on the back of one successful season in the Premier League, and Mike Ashley may soon be looking for a loophole in that agreement.

The Magpies suffered a third straight defeat on Sunday, with Southampton proving to be far too strong in a one-sided encounter at St Mary's.

Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse look a shadow of the deadly strike force which struck fear into the heart of Premier League defences last season, while injuries to key men have left Pardew light on graft and guile.

Injuries can be offered as an excuse, with Newcastle's success last season built on their ability to name a settled side and offer rests at suitable junctures.

That is not the case this term and Pardew desperately needs to rediscover the winning formula if he is to avoid mounting pressure falling on his shoulders, with 14th place in the division not good enough for the Toon Army.

Southampton, meanwhile, are finally starting to turn performances into results and could be about to make an impressive surge up the top-flight standings.

It would be foolish to read too much into back-to-back victories over rock bottom Queens Park Rangers and out-of-sorts Newcastle, but the displays of Gaston Ramirez, Jason Puncheon and Adam Lallana suggest the Saints have found their feet and will be a force to be reckoned with over the busy festive period.

Chris Burton

Stoke 1 Fulham 0

After just one win and six draws from their opening ten league games, Tony Pulis' men have now stepped up a gear, claiming seven points from their last three matches.

Charlie Adam was again the hero, notching the decisive strike on 26 minutes - his second goal in three games for the Potters after his winner against QPR in the last home match.

The Scotland international proved a real livewire throughout and Pulis will be delighted he has also now found his scoring boots for his new side after his summer switch from Liverpool.

At the other end, skipper Ryan Shawcross put in a strong defensive display and showed the form which recently earned him his first cap for England.

Dimitar Berbatov was again the Cottagers' main man, and could have earned his side a point with a late strike only for Asmir Begovic to produce a good stop.

But the Cottagers were not allowed time to produce too many of their slick passing moves and gave the ball away too easily at the Britannia.

Fulham now have two London derbies coming up against Chelsea and Tottenham in the coming week and Jol will be demanding an increased effort to halt his side's slide down the league.

Steve Pass

Sunderland 2 West Brom 4

The West Brom bandwagon marches on and after an impressive 4-2 victory at Sunderland on Saturday the time has surely come for the critics to stop labelling their magnificent start to the season as little more than a "fluke".

The Baggies, under fledgling manager Steve Clarke, have now won eight and drawn two of their 13 league games to sit third in the table.

The Premier League this season is little better than average so there is every chance than an unfancied team could force their way into the top four as teams such as Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal struggle.

Their football is free-flowing at times, but they can also dig in when necessary - and it will be in the coming months.

Defensively they look solid, there is creativity in midfield and in Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie there are certainly goals.

It certainly has all the ingredients of success, so fluke? I don't think so.

Simon Crawford

Swansea 0 Liverpool 0

An intriguing contest be tween two sides who preach the same philosophy failed to deliver on its promise, as Swansea and Liverpool played out a goalless stalemate on Brendan Rodgers' return to the Liberty Stadium.

Rodgers will have been pleased to see his Reds side just about win the possession battle, but with the chances not quite falling for Luis Suarez on this occasion there was a lack of cutting edge.

Liverpool's performance drove home another reminder, if one were needed, that Suarez needs some support in attack, while the decision to play Jose Enrique in front of Stewart Downing did not work as neither player excelled.

Swansea carved out opportunities of their own and the way Pablo Hernandez and Michu played again demonstrated just how shrewd Michael Laudrup was in the transfer market with his raid on the Spanish market.

Hernandez, in particular, appears to be developing into a Premier League star, while Swansea appear increasingly difficult to beat and will be thi nking they can push on to cement a place in the top half.

Lewis Rutledge

Tottenham 3 West Ham

Jermain Defoe stole the show at White Hart Lane as Tottenham ran out comfortable winners against a distinctly average West Ham. The lone striker netted a brace to take his tally for the league season up to seven and his first was a real treat for the home fans, scoring from distance after an incredible run from the right side of midfield.

Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey were also extremely impressive as Tottenham showcased a free-flowing attacking performance. They linked up nicely for the second goal, and both hit the crossbar during the course of the ninety minutes.

It could have been different however if Lloris hadn't continued the form he showed against Lazio in midweek. West Ham breached the home side's defence more than they should have done and a team with more cutting edge in front of goal would have definitely scored more than just the one.

As for West Ham, Andy Carroll will receive a confidence boost after scoring with a good header late on. He won everything in the air and deserved his goal. However, the rest of the team offered little and Big Sam will be hoping for less of these type of performances if The Hammers are to build on their exceptionally strong start to the season.

Oliver Bell

Wigan 3 Reading 2

This could be a massive win for Wigan come the end of the season thanks to Jordi Gomez's injury-time goal.

Wigan came into the game on the back of two straight defeats, but they showed great resolve to come from behind at half-time to win 3-2.

The game was clear evidence of why both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the table as they showed they are too easy to score against.

It is great that Roberto Martinez and Brian McDermott are sticking to their principles to play open attacking football, but it leaves their respective sides too open to the opposition.

Scoring twice away from home Reading will feel they should have taken at least a point from the game, but Gomez's late goal ensured they were unable to build on their maiden win of the campaign against Everton last time out.

Roberto Martinez has masterminded two great escapes from relegation in the last two seasons, but on this evidence it looks like both these sides will be fighting to save themselves from the drop come May.

Pete O'Rourke