PETER Ndlovu's sizzling second half volley at Ewood on Wednesday night may have increased the pressure on Rovers in their battle for promotion.

But, if it's tough at the top, then spare a thought for those currently toughing it out at the bottom. The battle currently facing tomorrow's opponents Queens Park Rangers is one of survival.

Earlier this week, the cost of sustaining a club in the higher echelons of English Football finally caught up with the London-based outfit.

Rangers and their parent company Loftus Road plc have both been placed into administration after running up debts in excess of £10 million. So when Rovers travel south tomorrow they will come face-to-face with a club in crisis.

"It's a very sad time for me having had 20-odd years' experience with Rangers," said Loftus Road legend, Gerry Francis.

"But in some ways you have to look on the positives.

"A number of teams have gone into administration and they do seem to come out the other side stronger having got someone in to take over the club.

"I was manager here recently for two and a half years and it was by far the hardest spell I've had in football with all these situations going on.

"We tried ever so hard to cut corners and cut costs, at the same time trying to keep the team in the First Division -- which we did. But, obviously, going into administration is a major step and a bit of a shock to everyone concerned.

"I bought a million shares in the plc and it is quite possible that they are not going to be worth very much at the moment.

"But that is irrelevant to the welfare of QPR. The long-term future of the club is more important to me.

"Rangers are a great club and there must be someone out there who can come in and give the club a chance to put things right again."

In a perverse way, this week's announcement could yet turn out to be a blessing in disguise for new boss Ian Holloway and his relegation-haunted side.

Invariably, clubs faced with a crisis suddenly develop a siege mentality which pulls together fans and players alike.

And Loftus Road chief executive David Davies sees the appointment of an administrator as a chance for the club to put itself back on an even keel.

"When we announced that Gerry Francis was standing down, we realised as a board that there were mistakes made five years ago," said Davies.

"What you are seeing now is a culmination of those mistakes. What I have tried to say to the players and staff alike is that this is not the time for histrionics.

"What we have to do now is come together as a club and a unit to make ourselves as attractive a proposition as possible for a new buyer.

"Most clubs that have gone through this process in recent years have generally come out of it a much more robust and vibrant business than when they went in.

"I see this as the new beginning of an era for QPR rather than the end of an old one."

For those sentiments to ring true, however, it's imperative Holloway can save his side from the drop -- starting with a win against in-form Rovers.

Confidence is currently at rock bottom with Rangers having lost four of their last six.

However, Stuart Wardley gave his side a glimmer of hope after climbing off the bench to smash a late equaliser at Nottingham Forest last week.

And Holloway may pin his faith in the former non-League star tomorrow as he looks for the goals to claw his side away from the dreaded dropzone.

"It was well-overdue for me!" said Wardley. "I haven't scored many this year, so hopefully I can notch up a couple more between now and the end of the season.

"We need four or five wins from our last seven games. And, with our fans behind us, we can start against Blackburn."