PETER RAMAGE is refusing to throw in the towel in the promotion race - and still thinks a sentimental trip to former club Newcastle could happen for him next season.

The Rs will emerge from the hibernation of international week with seven points to make up on the play-off quartet - and only six games in which to do it.

But the defender believes the back-to-back wins over Swansea and Bristol City have given the team a momentum which could yet propel them to an unlikely top six finish.

"The play-offs are definitely still the goal," Ramage told the Gazette.

"That was the aim at the start of the season and just because we're a little bit back, I don't see why we can't achieve that.

"If we keep winning, we can go up there. There's no reason why we can't. We are seven points off it now but we will keep plugging away.

"It would be nice to have a little bit of help elsewhere but the main objective until the end of the season is to concentrate on what we do and hopefully keep picking up wins.

"I'd like to play against Newcastle in the Premier League next season.

"If I'm honest, I want to play for them again because it was always a dream of mine."

Ramage continued: "It was important after the run we've been on to carry on what we did against Swansea. This [against Bristol] was a massive win for us and it was vitally important to carry on the form that we showed then and we did.

"I think they deserved their equaliser, but the way we kept going and the spirit that we showed meant we deservedly got the winner in the end."

Ramage, delighted to be back in the team after a spell on the sidelines, added: "I've come back into a team that's doing well and that brings confidence to me.

"Defensively, we're looking really sound and I think we've got one of the best defensive records. That was one of the reasons why I couldn't get in the team. It was frustrating but I had no arguments.

"The lads are playing well and you wait for your opportunity. I had to keep my head right and keep physically right and I've come in and now my aim is to stay in the team and help the team progress to the play-offs.

"We've got a great bunch of lads here who keep spirits up - even the lads who aren't in the team. It's been the same for Fitz Hall.

"We've both come down from the Premier League hoping to play week-in, week out but because of the form of Matt Con-nolly, Damion Stewart and Kaspars Gorkss, we've had to wait." Match Summary QPR (0) 2 BRISTOL C (0) 1 Line-up: Cerny; Ramage, Connolly (Helguson 61), Gorkss, Delaney; Lopez; Alberti (Routledge h/t), Leigertwood, Ephraim, Taarabt; Di Carmine (Cook 73). Subs not used: Vine, Mahon. Attendance: 14,059. GOALS: Lopez (65), McIndoe (77), Taarabt (81).

MoM: Jordi Lopez 

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CRYSTAL PALACE

Loftus Road Saturday,April 4 - 3pm Championship Manager: Neil Warnock Position last season: 5th Form Guide: Mid-table Palace have been unable to repeat last year's exciting run to the play-offs and a moderate home record has not lifted them above the also-rans. The Eagles drew 0-0 with Reading last week but have won only two of their last nine matches - at home to Preston and away to Swansea - a record which has kept them off the pace.

Players to look out for: Victor Moses and Sean Scannell are full of promise - even if goals have been scarce. Striker Rui Fonte is on loan from Arsenal while former Gunner Anthony Stokes is also visiting. [25a0] Most recent meetings: C Palace 0-0 QPR (29 Nov 2008); QPR 1-2 C Palace (4 Dec 2007); C Palace 1-1 QPR (10 Nov 2007) - Championship. Head-to-head record: QPR Wins: 35 CP Wins: 29 Draws: 27 

Match Facts: Rangers have won only one of 11 meetings since their famous 6-0 win against the Eagles at Loftus Road in 1999 which staved off relegation from the Championship. That win was five clashes ago in west London when Jimmy Smith (2), Steve Lomas and Kevin Gallen (from the spot) scored the goals in a 4-2 win. The teams drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park earlier this season and in last year's meeting on home soil, Rangers slipped up after leading through Damion Stewart - Clint Hill and Clinton Morrison netting for the visitors.

Forecast: Rangers have a bit of momentum from success home wins against Swansea and Bristol City and should make it a good hat-trick.

Gazette forecast success rate: 21 correct out of 44 (48%)