Marti Cifuentes: Queens Park Rangers boss praises energy of 'amazing' fans at Loftus Road

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes has overseen a run of three matches undefeated

Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes has praised the "amazing" Hoops fans for their support of the relegation-threatened club.

The west-Londoners sit three points from safety in the Championship but are on a three-match unbeaten run.

Cifuentes, speaking before Saturday's game against Norwich City at Loftus Road, said his players "feel the fans' energy" every time they play at home.

"Since my arrival they have been top, top, amazing," the 41-year-old said.

"I felt a very strong connection with the fans from the beginning.

"And I can only praise them because I imagine for a club like QPR to be in a relegation battle for a long time, it must not be pleasant.

"But I think the fans know that we need them, that we are trying to do our best, that those guys [the players], despite the bad performances, I think we are showing a commitment and that we really want to achieve our target [of staying up]."

Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth as head coach on 30 October, with the club 23rd in the table.

They currently sit 22nd, one place from safety, but won away at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday for the first time this century, with Joe Hodge scoring on his debut in a 2-1 win.

Saturday's opponents Norwich are ninth, one point off the play-off places.

If QPR win and Southampton beat Huddersfield Town, the Hoops would move out of the relegation zone, on goal difference, for the first time since September.

Cifuentes said his team would be wary of the Canaries' quality but believes they can win the game.

"They're a club with Premier [League] seasons behind them, so I'm sure they want to push because they're very close to the play-offs," he added.

"At the same time, we are aware that their record away is not the best in the league.

"They're a team that offensively, away, has not been as good as probably they would like.

"We have to make sure we go all in, front foot from the beginning and have a good performance against a good team."