Queens Park Rangers had three of the nine seasons in the Premier League: 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2014/15. The other six were outside it. Against Manchester City they drew twice and lost four times in six league games, and the two points they took both come off.
None of it changes a fate. QPR survive by a point in 2011/12 and go down in 2012/13 and 2014/15, in both tables. In 2012/13 the 0–0 at home in January comes off, 25 becomes 24, and they are 19th of 19, twelve points short of 16th. What moves is the order around them: in 2014/15 they climb one place beyond City’s own, off the bottom.
2011/12
One clear of Bolton
City beat QPR 3–2 twice: at QPR in November, and at the Etihad on the final day. That afternoon is City’s. QPR led 2–1 until Džeko equalised in the 92nd minute, with Barton already sent off, and Agüero’s winner came 15 seconds after the final whistle at Sunderland, where United had won 1–0.
Take City out and none of it is in the table, and none of it costs QPR anything: they took no points from either game. 37 points, 17th for real, 16th of 19 without City. The last safe place, one point clear of Bolton on 36. Same margin, same survival.
That was the season QPR signed two players from City: Shaun Wright-Phillips in the summer and Nedum Onuoha in January.
2014/15
Off the bottom
The 2–2 at home in November goes, one point: 30 becomes 29. The 6–0 at City on 10 May, the result that relegated QPR for real, costs nothing.
20th for real becomes 18th of 19 without City. QPR are level with Burnley on 29 and ahead of them on goal difference by a single goal, so Burnley are last. Southampton, Everton and QPR climb two places each, the biggest moves in that table. QPR are still nine points short of safety.