RAY Harford suffered a frustrating visit to France to run the rule over Spartak Moscow's star pair, Ilia Tsimbalar and Yuri Nikiforov.

Tsimbalar was substituted at half-time as a disappointing Spartak lost 2-0 in Nantes.

But Nikiforov was outstanding in the sweeper's role and prevented a landslide Champions' League quarter finals first leg win for Nantes.

Tsimbalar is battling back to full fitness after undergoing a serious knee operation.

He played behind the front two but his first half action was limited.

And new coach of the new-look Spartak side, Georgui Yarksev, who has lost Sergei Yuran, Vasily Kulkov and Victor Onopko since the group stages, admitted Tsimbalar's inclusion in the side had been a gamble.

He said: "You cannot go into a game of such importance without the best player in Russia." Harford is a long-term admirer of the Russian pair and would have been disappointed not to have a more conclusive first hand look at Tsimbalar in top class action.

But the Rovers boss hasn't turned his back on the domestic transfer market.

For Blackburn Rovers are firmly believed to be one of the clubs waiting in the wings for relegation-threatened QPR to hang a "For Sale" sign on Trevor Sinclair.

Rovers have maintained a long-standing interest in the Rangers star, according to sources close to Loftus Road.

And any indication that QPR boss Ray Wilkins is prepared to unload his greatest playing asset could spark an auction.

The lack of availability of top players in England was one of the reasons Harford was prompted to look to the Russians.

At home, other clubs, including Arsenal, are reckoned to be in the hunt for Sinclair, a player tipped to go all the way with England.

And Liverpool and Manchester United bosses Roy Evans and Alex Ferguson were interested spectators as QPR were plunged into further relegation trouble with a 2-1 defeat by Leeds at Loftus Road last night. But Wilkins, whose priority is to try to steer Rangers to Premiership safety, has repeatedly stated that the forward, who can play either wide or down the middle, is staying with the London club.

The reserve team fixture against Tranmere Rovers, brought forward to Monday March 11, has now been postponed.

Their quandary is whether Sinclair would be worth more as the transfer deadline approaches or at the end of the season when he would surely be on the move if, as expected, QPR plummet through the relegation trapdoor.

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