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November 8, 1997:
QPR, in their second season in Division One, lost 0-3 at Middlesbrough. A couple of days later, Stuart Houston and Bruce Rioch were out. (Houston's initial replacement was John Hollins. A few weeks later, WBA's Ray Harford had been appointed...and QPR plummeted down the table and ended the season staying up with one points and with Vinnie Jones and Ian Dowie, ensconsed at the club.
Houston, who had replaced Ray Wilkins the previous season, had in fact won the "Manager of the Month" just a few weeks prior to being sacked.
At the time of his sacking, QPR's record was 22 points from 16 games (6 wins, 4 draws and 6 defeats)In hindsight - and actually by the end of that same season, that record doesn't look that bad!. QPR ended the season staying up by one point with 49 points from 46 games (taking 27 points from the 30 games after Houston and Rioch were axed).
Less than a year after his arrival, Harford himself was out, with Gerry Francis coming in to replace him. (After Francis came Holloway and Waddock and Gregory and now De Canio)
Houston's final team against Middlesbrough:
Harper
Brazier Maddix Ready Rose
Barker Morrow Quashie Sinclair
Sheron Peacock
Sub: Slade