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Rio Ferdinand admits QPR’s poor start in the Premier League has left him sulking in his “cave” on Saturday nights.

Former England captain Ferdinand returns to his first club West Ham in the third of Sunday's televised matches, with his current side anchored in the bottom three and question marks hanging over his own form at age 35.

The centre-back switched from Manchester United, where he won six titles, to Loftus Road outfit on a free transfer in the summer, but so far the Londoners have managed only one clean sheet in six league matches.

As he prepares for his 500th Premier League appearance, Ferdinand admitted: “We’ve not done as well as we would have liked yet.

“At United, Saturday nights were better – you want to put yourself in a cave and not come out of it when you lose and, at the moment, I’m sat in my front room most weekends.

“We’re working hard on the training pitch to put things right, but results have not gone for us yet.

“There was some improvement at Southampton last weekend, when we lost to an unbelievable strike, but I never thought it would be a walk in the park for us this season.”

Ferdinand revealed he had struck up a good accord with Joey Barton – an unlikely meeting of minds, perhaps – and added: “We’ve had some good discussions about all sorts of things.

(Image: Getty)

“In fact, I’ve joined a good bunch of lads here. They want to do well, there’s a good spirit and I couldn’t have gone to a much better dressing room.”

Ferdinand has come in for some flak for his part in a defence that has leaked 13 goals in six games – the second most in the top flight.

But Hoops manager Harry Redknapp reckons the 35-year-old’s errors are being highlighted due to his high profile.

He said: “I don’t think it’s fair. You’ll always pick on the big players, but I didn’t see him make too many mistakes against ­Southampton last week. It’s ­probably because he’s ­high-profile.

“We’ve shipped miles too many goals. We’ve been a bit open and we need to tighten up.

“I’ve got no problems with Rio. We’ve got experienced players, but you’ve got to be solid in front of them.”

Ferdinand will become only the 11th player to reach the 500-game landmark and Redknapp reckons the player he signed as a kid, two decades ago, was always destined for big things.

The R’s boss added: “He was only 15 and I saw the potential in him then. I said he would be the best defender in Europe because he was on another level.

“I knew he was going to be a big player.”