Premier League: QPR away ineptitude will be punished

Not even an Adel Taarabt start could prevent another QPR loss

Only three of the 11 worst travellers in Premier League history survived, and those sides won at least 12 at home...

What is more astonishing: QPR setting a record for the worst away start in Premier League history by getting through ten games without earning a single point, or the fact that they are only a point from safety despite that atrocious run?

The Hoops remain in contention for survival courtesy of top-half-worthy home results - five wins and four draws in 11 fixtures - but that is likely to deteriorate as their final eight guests are Man United, Southampton, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, West Ham and Newcastle.

Of course, the flip side is that their away encounters aren't quite so fiendish, yet the psychological impact of their losing streak adds a layer of difficulty that was visible in the latest reverse to Burnley, who had won twice in ten tries at Turf Moor this term before exploiting QPR's generosity.

Intriguingly, punters are reluctant to write the west Londoners off: they are third favourites to go down at 1.9520/21, longer odds than their claret-clad conquerors.

To assess how tricky it is to retain Premier League status while toiling on your travels, we looked at the worst 11 away teams in the division's existence - the ones who ended a season with an average of less than 0.4 points per road trip - and the results weren't pretty from a QPR stance.

The four weakest visitors ever were all relegated: Derby in 2007/08 with an average of 0.16, Burnley in 2009/10 with 0.21, Watford in 1999/00 with 0.26 and Hull in 2009/10 with 0.32.

Three of the other eight escaped: Leeds in 1992/93 despite mustering just 0.33 and both Coventry in 1999/00 and Fulham in 2005/06 with 0.37.

There is a massive "however" though: they had to win at least 12 home matches (out of 21 in Leeds' case and 19 for Coventry and Fulham) to negate the damage inflicted by their travel sickness.

For QPR to achieve that, they would have to triumph in all bar one of their remaining Loftus Road fixtures, which are against clubs currently placed 12th or higher. Even then, those Leeds, Coventry and Fulham sides all collected seven away points to supplement their huge tallies as hosts.

So while it is possible for Harry Redknapp's men to stay up regardless of their wretched road form, it will require an exceptional effort.