91�ȱ�

QPR caretaker boss Mark Bowen believes incoming manager Harry Redknapp has enough quality players at his disposal to keep the club in the Premier League.

Redknapp has replaced Mark Hughes, who was sacked by the Hoops on Friday, and watched from the stands as his new side lost 3-1 at Manchester United.

The west London club are bottom of the table and winless after taking four points from their opening 13 matches.

Bowen said: "They are a good bunch of players and I expect them to stay up."

QPR took a shock lead at Old Trafford through Jamie Mackie's close-range strike before goals from Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Javier Hernandez swung the match in United's favour.

It leaves the Hoops facing another relegation scrap after they escaped an immediate return to the Championship on the final day of last season.

Hughes presided over a major summer overhaul of the squad in a bid to avoid another such battle, but paid the price for their terrible start.

Bowen, who was fellow Welshman Hughes's assistant at Loftus Road, said: "It's difficult for the club because at the end of last season we had to buy 14 players and the club was criticised for it.

"But out of the players who have left, no-one is still in the Premier League. We had to raise the bar and the standards.

"We have brought good players into the club. I have seen it every day in training. Maybe at times a few of the lads have been found wanting.

"But they will get used to the intensity of the Premier League."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes QPR face a tough task to avoid relegation given their start, but agrees Redknapp has the credentials to guide them to safety.

"When you are down at the bottom of the league at this time of the season it will be very tough for them," said the United boss.

"But Harry has done it before - he turned it around when he went back to Portsmouth.

"They were in a terrible position and he rescued them. It could be done again."