QPR boss Harry Redknapp admits they're stronger line-up WITHOUT Rio Ferdinand in his team.

His manager admits that Ferdinand has struggled to adapt to life at Loftus Road and that the R's have looked better defensively in his absence.

"It's been difficult," Redknapp said. "He's come from a team used to winning every week and everything to a team out of the championship and has found it more difficult.

"So it's a more difficult period. Maybe he wasn't getting an awful lot of protection in the early games either. Him, Steven Caulker, whoever played at the back - it wasn't just Rio. They found it difficult in them early in them early games. I think we've looked more solid recently but no, I've got no problems with Rio."