Jamie Mackie: We owe the QPR fans a derby victory to savour against Fulham

QPR attacker Jamie Mackie is relishing the prospect of facing west London rivals Fulham this Saturday at Loftus Road EMPICS Sport

Jamie Mackie says the QPR squad owe it to their fans to get a positive result against arch-rivals Fulham after the 4-0 embarrassment at Craven Cottage earlier in the season.

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Rangers were second best in every department in September as they suffered their fifth successive away defeat against the Cottagers.

It was a night to forget for all involved at QPR, but even more so the industrious Mackie, who suffered a significant tear to his right hamstring, keeping him out of action for over three months.

The forward is now champing at the bit to set the record straight against Fulham.

Mackie told the Times: “We owe it to our fans to put on a performance against Fulham. We were very poor on the night back in September and deservedly lost the game.

“It’s not good enough to lose to a local rival in that manner. We need to roll our sleeves up and remember the feeling we had after the game at Craven Cottage and use that to our advantage.

“After results like that sometimes there’s not a lot said, but on that particular night there was a little inquest – there were strong words said between the lads.

“On a personal note I was beyond devastated as I obviously knew I had picked up a bad injury – my head was all over the place.

“The good thing in football is that you can always put it right more times than not, so we’re lucky in that respect. It’s an important game for us.

“If we’re at it like we were against Ipswich, we’ll have a great chance of picking up another three points.

“It’s a good game for the fans. We need to go out and entertain them again. I know how much this game means to them – and it means a lot to me too.”

Mackie has endured little luck over the years against the Cottagers. On his return from a nine-month absence due to a broken leg in October 2011, he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute as the Rs were thrashed 6-0 at the Cottage.

Rangers then lost 3-2 on the banks of the Thames in April 2013, before this season’s 4-0 drubbing.

He continued: “It’s never been a great day when I’ve played Fulham. A lot of negative things have happened to me on a personal level and the team has struggled too.

“Hopefully I can come back and score a couple against Fulham and put it to bed, just like I did against Blackburn the following year after I broke my leg at Ewood Park!

“I haven’t got any negative thoughts in my mind ahead of this game. I relish these type of games – they’re the best ones to be involved in – and Loftus Road will be rocking.

“We know in our camp we owe them one, but it’s down to us now to do the business and make the fans proud of us.

“I love playing at Loftus Road so any chance I can get to play in a game here is a special one for me.”

Mackie is raring to go again after getting back to full fitness, and he is of the belief that he is best utilised as a striker.

“I personally think I’m more effective when I play up front – I can play in behind and open up defences with my pace,” he said.

“To be honest with you as long as I’m out there I don’t care what position I’m playing in, though.”