• Premier League

Redknapp hails effort of players after surprise win

ESPN staff
January 2, 2013
Shaun Wright-Phillips was mobbed by team-mates © Getty Images
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QPR manager Harry Redknapp believes his players were rewarded for their efforts as they picked up a surprise 1-0 away win against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Shaun Wright-Phillips' late strike was the difference between the two sides, as Chelsea saw their hopes of challenging for the Premier League title dealt another blow as Redknapp's relegation-threatened men closed the gap between themselves and safety.

"They worked their socks off tonight and you get your reward if you work like that - and that's what we did," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "It was a fantastic performance. We restricted Chelsea to very few chances and we deserved it.

"We had good opportunities as well and if the final pass had been better.....we hit some final sloppy passes but then we got that fine goal."

Redknapp highlighted the decision to play Adel Taarabt as a lone striker as crucial to the victory, with the Moroccan laying the ball off for Wright-Phillips - a substitute for the injured Junior Hoilett - to lash past Ross Turnbull.

"I pulled him over yesterday and told him I'd play him up front," Redknapp added of Taarabt. "I told him to hold the ball up and wait for us to join him.

"We worked on it for a couple of hours in training. It was a gamble really but the shape was good. I'm not even sure if he's played up front before."

He added: "I'm just really pleased with out first away win for over a year.

"They've set the standard tonight and if we're going to get out of this mess then they have to work as hard as that - not just once but every week."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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