MIDFIELDER Michael O'Connor believes Scunthorpe United have thrown themselves a lifeline in their battle to avoid relegation.

A stunning 4-1 triumph at home to Championship leaders QPR has breathed new life into the dressing room, offered new hope for the fans and got the teams above them looking a touch more anxiously over the shoulders.

There is still a long way to go if the Iron, now third from bottom, are to pull off what would be a remarkable escape act.

They will probably need to win four of their last six games – starting at home to Reading tomorrow.

"What a difference a week has made," O'Connor told the Telegraph.

"It just shows that the new gaffer has brought something to the team. He has got us more stable and working hard.

"He has come here to try to keep us in the Championship and on Saturday we looked more like the Scunthorpe United of old.

"QPR are still nine points clear at the top. They are a good team with a great manager, but I thought we passed them off the park at times.

"To beat them like we did has given the lads a real lift. There was a real buzz in the dressing room after the game.

"We know there is still a lot of hard work to be done over the next four weeks – we need to make sure we don't waste this result.

"If we can beat Reading tomorrow and then go and win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, it gives us a chance of staying up."

It was a cracking goal from O'Connor just before the hour mark that fired United into a 3-1 lead.

"I don't think I have ever scored a better goal than that," he confessed.

"David Mirfin has tried to toe the ball to me and I just caught it on the half volley."

O'Connor is still United's joint-leading marksman this season, with seven goals.

But, only just back from injury, he admitted to feeling the pace of the game in the closing stages.

"I am working hard on my fitness and I am pleased with it," he said. "My groin was cramping up a bit in the last 10 minutes, but I will definitely be okay for Reading."