Joey Barton admits that QPR players are fighting for their futures over the final six games of the Premier League season.

Rangers are two points adrift of safety after their 3-3 draw with Aston Villa after a frustrating campaign to this point.

And the one-time England international knows that each player could be out of the exit door at Loftus Road in the summer, with Chris Ramsey's future also uncertain.

Barton said: “It's the nature of the beast. Every transfer window, everyone's future goes up in the air. People are trying to keep hold of players or part exchange players. We have to understand that.

“Players are commodities in the modern game, it's part of the job. You don't cry about it, it is what it is. If you're not performing then clubs are within their rights to bring someone else in who can. It's a cut throat business.”

In the cold light of day, Rangers fans would consider that a point gained, especially after winning two away games all season and being 2-1 down at half-time but Barton admitted the squad were gutted after taking a 3-2 lead with 13 minutes left.

He added: “We're gutted we didn't win because we got in front and I felt we were the stronger side in the second half. It was a moment of class from Benteke, but this is the league.

“You're playing against some of the best players in the world and it was not that long ago that Benteke was being talked about as a £25-30m man.

“He got that injury which set him back and didn't go to the World Cup, but the reality is every team has got a player like him. There is no hiding place. I'm looking forward to it.”

Barton praised the character of the squad and admitted that, without it, they would already be relegated from the top flight.

He said: “It's a different kind of pressure, but as a professional player you want a challenge. You want to see if you've got any minerals.

“As I said to the players at half-time 'we're being tested again'. At this club we don't do things the easy way. People think strength is winning all the time, it's not.

Discussion: Barton had words with his team-mates at half-time

“It's overcoming obstacles, getting kicked in the b******s and getting up after it. Certainly if you don't have it at this football club, you'd be dead and buried.

“We have a great spirit in that dressing room, something we work really hard to protect. Everyone wrote us off before we went to West Brom and we have quietly believed. But it's about doing it and over the last couple of games we have shown that.

“Everton were very fortunate to beat us, I don't care what anyone says. That's been the case. Early in the season we got pumped a few times playing three at the back, but since then we have been incredibly competitive.”

When asked how he coped with the pressure, Barton replied: “Pressure? This isn't pressure. This isn't real life, it's football. There are a lot more things to worry about than whether you win on a Saturday. Just go down any job centre, you will see what real pressure is.”