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Sporting Life- HARFORD TO LEARN FATE OVER JOB
By Andy Sims, PA Sport
Mick Harford will find out on Saturday night what his prospects are of holding onto the manager's job at QPR following Saturday's 1-0 win at Charlton.
Adam Bolder struck a second-half winner as Rangers continued their revival under Harford, who is putting forward a strong case for the permanent role as John Gregory's successor.
Rangers now boast two wins and two draws from their last four games under Harford to haul themselves off the foot of the table, but new owner Flavio Briatore continues to be linked with a host of Italian coaches.
However, as the Formula One team chief looked on from the stands at The Valley today, he may have just been wondering how the likes of Francesco Guidolin and Luigi de Canio can hope to perform much better.
Rangers could and should have won by more, Martin Rowlands missing a penalty, and Harford can count himself hard done by if chairman Gianni Paladini informs him his considerable services are no longer required.
"I've got a meeting with the chairman tonight and we'll discuss things from there," said the former England striker, who was brought in as Gregory's number two over the summer.
"I came here to work with John but unfortunately he left. I've enjoyed being caretaker manager over the last few weeks and it's something I'll have to deal with if and when it comes.
"It's not about me, it's about the players. A lot of things have happened at this club, there's been a lot of uncertainty, but since I've been in charge over the last five games the players have responded magnificently.
"I'm just told to get on with the job, I've not got involved in the politics, I just prepare the team as best as I can. And on today's showing if we carry on playing we've got a great chance of climbing up the table."
After an even first half, during which Charlton's Sam Sodje shaved the crossbar, Rangers charged out of the blocks at the start of the second period.
They were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute when Rowan Vine's run into the area was halted by Jonathan Fortune.
Rowlands took responsibility from the spot but his low shot cannoned back off the post.
Mikele Leigertwood then missed a gilt-edged chance when one-on-one with Weaver, but Rangers kept plugging away and were rewarded with Bolder's strike in the 72nd minute.
Weaver felt he was blocked by Marc Nygaard as he went for Chris Barker's cross and the ball fell to Bolder, who carefully placed his shot into an unguarded net.
"When you miss a penalty it can go one of two ways but it galvanised us," added Harford.
"We could have gone on to win more comfortably, there were some very good performances out there today."
Charlton have now lost their last three games to slip off the promotion pace, and manager Alan Pardew pulled no punches after the game.
"That's the loosest we've played as a team this season. We were desperate to score and it affected us a bit," he said.
"Our movement was too over-indulgent and we needed to be tighter. Take nothing away from QPR, they deserved to win and we put in an inept display.
"We were booed off by our fans and rightly so." Sporting Life