An awful start saw Queens Park Rangers win 3–0 at Upton Park on the opening day. The trend continued with only one win in the first 10 games leaving the club seventeenth, and the sombre mood was not helped when striker Frank McAvennie was sold to Celtic. There was more gloom as Third Division Barnsley won 5–2 at Upton Park in the League Cup, but results improved with 2–1 away wins at both Oxford United and Watford. Billy Bonds was brought back into the team and the side responded with home wins against Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Newcastle.

At Christmas there were defeats to fellow Londoners Wimbledon and Tottenham, and New Year’s Day brought a bad 4–1 defeat at Norwich City. The FA Cup saw some relief when fellow strugglers Charlton were beaten 2–0, but in the fourth round Queens Park Rangers won 3–1 at Loftus Road. In March striker Leroy Rosenior was signed from Fulham and became an instant hero as he scored on his debut in the 1–0 victory over Watford. Injuries were piling up, though, and relegation was looming until the home game with Chelsea saw the Hammers win 4–1 in an exhilarating display, with two goals scored by Rosenior. It had been a disappointing season (sixteenth place) and it was a sad day when Billy Bonds announced his retirement.