Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal believes there is one way QPR can stay up this season after watching his side labour to victory over the Hoops this afternoon - play to their strengths.

Rangers frustrated the Red Devils for almost an hour at Loftus Road before Marouane Fellaini broke the deadlock and James Wilson rubbed salt into the wound in stoppage time.

The two goalscorers came off the bench to snatch the points and Van Gaal admits it was uncomfortable viewing for the visiting bench in the opening half in west London.

Action: Manchester United's Angel di Maria and QPR's Mauricio Isla

United resorted to an ineffective long ball game that didn’t suit their technical players and the Dutch manager believes QPR are even better than his side at playing such a style.

"The main thing is we have played in the first half like Queens Park Rangers wanted," Van Gaal explained to reporters. "We did the same thing as Queens Park Rangers - play through the air. Long balls and then QPR are better at that.

"You have to play along the floor, the ground, and in spite the ground is not so good here you have to do it and in the second-half we changed the shape also and that helped us.

Double act: Van Gaal meets Redknapp today

"But the coach, the players are winning, always. They have to show it at the right moment against the right opponent and on the pitch and that's very difficult to do that every week."

QPR remain embroiled in a relegation battle but Van Gaal’s words will give comfort to his beaten opposite number, who has had to face serious questions over his position this week.

However, Hoops boss Harry Redknapp is steadfast in his belief that his job is safe having spoken five times with chairman Tony Fernandes this week.