Stan Bowles: Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes is hoping to beat West Brom in club legend's style
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Marti Cifuentes succeeded Gareth Ainsworth as head coach of Queens Park Rangers at the end of October 2023
Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes says he hopes the team can beat West Bromwich Albion in the style of club legend Stan Bowles.
The ex-England and QPR forward died on 24 February having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2015.
Wednesday's Championship game with West Brom is the first at Loftus Road since news of Bowles' death broke, aged 75.
"The fact we can give something extra to his family and the fans is an extra motivation for us," Cifuentes said.
"Stan has been massive in the history of QPR, in the style of the club and hopefully we can get the three points for him but also in his style.
"We have a good run at home but you get something extra from the legend he is."
'We want to find another Stan'
Bowles played 315 of his 560 games in English football for the R's, scoring 97 times for the west London club. He was also capped five times by England.
Cifuentes, whose side are unbeaten in four matches at home, winning two, identified midfielders Chris Willock and Ilias Chair as current examples of the type of player he wants to nurture at QPR in the mould of Bowles.
"We want to find another Stan," he said. "It's something I also mentioned for the fans when I arrived. I want them to be proud of how we play."
Stan Bowles (right) played five times for England
Rangers have won their last three matches but remain level on points with third-bottom Stoke City.
Just a single point separates 16th and 22nd in the Championship.
The 2-1 victory at Leicester City on Saturday capped QPR's impressive recent run, but Cifuentes insists he always had faith in the performances he was seeing from the players.
"Even in the period of six games without a win, we competed at a very good level," he said.
"We have a process and identity and the players are responding well.
"I'm happy but we need to be aware of the relegation zone.
"It was just two or three teams battling - now there are a lot of teams involved. There's a lot that is not under our control but we have to try to control what we can."