Harry Redknapp has admitted that Queens Park Rangers will most likely have to go through the Championship's playoffs if they are to make an instant return to the Premier League.
His concession comes after last night's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, which leaves Rangers fourth in the table and 10 points adrift of Burnley in second.
"Tonight's defeat is a big blow and we have to be realistic, we're now looking at making the playoffs and that's not going to be easy," he told the club's website.
"It's going to be tough because there's a lot of teams in and around us."
QPR are seven points clear of Reading outside the playoff places with 10 games left of the season.
