“Sam has better players – that’s the difference”

Harry Redknapp doesn’t necessarily believe what were considered boardroom threats to Sam Allardyce’s position have made a difference to West Ham this season.

Redknapp brings his Queens Park Rangers to the Boleyn on Sunday for what he admits is a very difficult game.

He said: “They look a good team with lots of pace and movement – it will be a big test for us.”

And in his morning press conference at Loftus Road he added: “I don’t know if it’s [the boardroom warning] made the difference for West Ham.

“They’ve brought some good players in, a couple of players with pace, they bought [Alex] Song in.

They’ve improved their squad basically, that’s the difference this year. I think they are a stronger squad.

“He’s got better players. They’ve got a good manager. That’s the difference really.”