Neil Warnock ignores QPR rumours to focus on Aston Villa cup clash

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Warnock takes his Crystal Palace side to Villa Park for the fifth-round replay in what could be one of his last games in charge of the south London club.

With the Eagles in administration and his position at Selhurst Park uncertain, the 61-year-old is widely tipped to take over at QPR in the near future.

Warnock refuses to discuss the speculation but revealed he still expects to take Palace to Doncaster for their league clash at the weekend - having already booked his hotel room in the city.

However, the situation at Palace is clearly irritating him.

"It's disappointing and frustrating but it's gone now," he said. "We are in administration and we are in a mess, and now I can't bring any players in.

"But we have got to get enough points to stay up. That's the challenge now.

"There are a lot of times when I am down, but not around the players. I want something to drop for us, maybe a decision going for us.

"We're all in the same boat. We're all feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. We are disappointed to be down where we are in the league but we've got to get into our mindset that we are not going for promotion, we are scrapping to stay in the league."

Warnock revealed administrator Brendan Guilfoyle is in talks with three "serious" potential buyers, and victory tomorrow night would make the club a far more attractive proposition.

"The cup is icing on the cake. To get Villa and then a replay is all good news for the club," he added.

"The lads have done fantastic. They know I think Doncaster is far more important, but Villa is important because of the finances.

"We'll have to play as well as we did in the first leg, and Villa play average, if we are going to get through. We want to give them a game."

The winners will face either West Brom or Reading in the sixth round.

Midfielder Neil Danns needs a fitness test on a back injury and winger Sean Scannell is struggling with a groin problem.

Stern John, Kieron Cadogan and Lee Hills are all cup-tied so Warnock will struggle to fill the substitutes' bench.

The Football League have refused Palace special dispensation to sign a player on loan ahead of the clash.