Hail Cesar! Flawless QPR stopper defies Mancini's champions... before hijacking Nelsen's guard of honour after stellar performance



Harry Redknapp hailed Julio Cesar after his heroics earned Queens Park Rangers a crucial point in their battle against the drop.



The QPR manager was delighted after a 0-0 draw with Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City dented the title hopes of Roberto Mancini.



'Cesar was excellent - he's world class,' said Redknapp. 'He's won everything and he’s an amazing goalkeeper.



Denied: Julio Cesar makes a full-stretch save from Gareth Barry No way through: Cesar saved Silva's effort late on to earn QPR a draw

'It's a bonus point, a great point. City rip teams to pieces, home and away. It’s not the end of the title race but it was a great result for Fergie. As long as we get off the bottom, I really couldn’t care.'



City manager Mancini, whose team are four points behind leaders Manchester United, admitted his former keeper at Inter Milan is still quality. Mancini said: 'Julio is a top-class keeper, we knew that.'



Cesar made a string of world-class saves to deny Manchester City three points at Loftus Road on Tuesday night.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was so happy with his performance that he milked the crowd at the final whistle and then made his way off the pitch, where he found the rest of his team had formed a guard of honour.

Cesar, completely unaware that it was actually for the leaving Ryan Nelsen, thought it was for him and began to walk down it before a member of QPR's backroom staff pushed him to the side.

Nelsen, who will take over as Toronto manager, gave Cesar a friendly shove before accepting the kind gesture of his team-mates.

It's not for you! See how Cesar tries to walk through the guard of honour

This is mine: Cesar appeared to think the guard of honour was for him

Brushed off: The goalkeeper gets pushed to one side

Move over: Ryan Nelsen comes along and gives Cesar a friendly shove

Farewell: Nelsen makes his way down the guard of honour... and Cesar applauds

Maybe, just maybe, if Cesar keeps up that kind of form and QPR avoid relegation from the Premier League, the super stopper will get a guard of honour of his own.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes tweeted: 'Thank you ryan nelsen. You have been an absolute star. Wish you good luck in your new role.'

Rangers remain bottom of the table despite taking points from Chelsea, Tottenham and now Man City in recent weeks but Redknapp's hard-work ethos appears to be keeping the west London club in the survival picture.



Pablo Zabaleta hit the bar for City as they toiled at a wet and windy Loftus Road whilst QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar made a handful of excellent saves to keep the scores level.



Adel Taarabt and Loic Remy had mere glimpses of the City goal throughout the game but Redknapp was pleased to secure a much-needed point.



'Of course it is a bonus point, it is a great point,' he said.



Where Redknapp was praising a point gained, City boss Roberto Mancini was left ruing his side's missed opportunity to put real pressure on neighbours Manchester United.

Ferguson's side face Southampton at Old Trafford tomorrow evening knowing a victory would re-establish the seven-point lead they built up over the festive period but even if the Red Devils are successful Mancini is not ready to throw in the towel.



'We lost two points, this is sure,' he said. 'But the season is long and I think I can say nothing because we played well, we had the chances but didn't score - that is all it is.



'We are disappointed with this result because we had a lot of chances to win, we dominated this game but when you play like this and don't score quickly it can be difficult.'

Redknapp said he is in for ‘two late nights’ as QPR chase the signatures of Peter Crouch and Christopher Samba before the transfer window closes.

Back to Britain? Chris Samba is one of Harry Redknapp's targets

Crouch began his league career at QPR and Stoke are ready to accept £5million plus Jamie Mackie but talks are ongoing over a contract that would include a drop in salary if they go down.



QPR are negotiating with Anzhi Makhachkala for defender Samba and with Toulouse over a £10m deal plus Samba Diakite for Etienne Capoue.

