QPR 0 Manchester United 2: Robin van Persie doubtful for Real Madrid test as Red Devils ease to win

Meanwhile QPR’s hopes of hearing “I will survive” bellow out took another serious dent.

Harry Redknapp’s men now have just 11 games to save their season, and are still seven points from safety.

This was all far too easy for the champions-elect, who were 15 points clear of rivals Manchester City, who were set to play Chelsea yesterday. The only negative point of note for the visitors came on 41 minutes when Robin van Persie was withdrawn after suffering a hip injury.

The Dutchman collided with a pitchside camera and is now a doubt for United’s matches against Norwich and Real Madrid.

From the moment impressive full-back Rafael’s thunderbolt nearly broke the net on 23 minutes, United were in no danger as QPR failed to score at home for the fourth game running.

Ryan Giggs rubbed salt into their wounds late on, notching his second career goal against Rangers, 12 years after his first. Age is very much just a number to the evergreen Welshman.

With his on-loan QPR twin brother Fabio sat in the stands, ineligible for this game, United’s Rafael continued his progression as a Red Devil first-teamer with a sumptuous display. His goal was a thing of beauty. Running at full
speed, he managed to control and direct a bouncing ball into the top corner from 25 yards after Julio Cesar had cleared a Robin van Persie cross. “He won’t hit another goal like that as long as he plays football,” declared Redknapp.

Rafael’s performance was a shining example that matching ability with desire can go a very long way in this game. Step forward QPR’s opposite number Jose Bosingwa, whose lack of fighting spirit laid the platform for Giggs’s 80th-minute strike.

The defender, who had refused to sit on the bench for QPR earlier in the season and was fined £130,000, pulled out of a challenge with Danny Welbeck deep in his own half.

Three passes later, the ball was in the net after Nani played through Giggs, who finished in typical style.

Despite the clear lack of focus and commitment to the cause from some his players, Redknapp is still confident his side can somehow gain at least 20 points from the remaining 33 available in order to survive.

“This leaves us bottom today, but we won’t be bottom at the end of the season,” he declared. “I still feel we’ll get out of it.”