Cifuentes: QPR must stop Leeds' 'X-factor' forwards

Marti Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth as QPR head coach in October

Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes said his team will have to stop Leeds United's "X-factor" forwards to win their final home game of the season and secure Championship survival.

The Hoops host promotion-chasing Leeds at Loftus Road on Friday night knowing three points would guarantee their safety with one game to spare.

Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth as head coach with the Rs second from bottom and with eight points from their first 14 games.

The former Hammarby boss has steered the west London club out of the drop zone and four points clear with two games remaining and wants to give the fans a chance to celebrate at their home ground.

"They (Leeds) have a lot of talent in their team, young players with X factor," Cifuentes said.

"We know that if we want to get something from this game we have to deliver our best performance otherwise there's not chance for us."

Leeds won 13 of their first 15 Championship games in 2024 as they clawed back a 17-point deficit to league leaders Leicester City.

But one win in their last four matches has handed the advantage in the race for automatic promotion to Ipswich Town, who are one point behind in third with a game in hand.

Cifuentes said his side had the added motivation of being able to secure their survival in front of their own fans but he was purely focused on their performance in the match.

"We have a big target in front of us," he said.

"I'm not here for 'what if?' I'm here to achieve, so my focus is 'let's go to deliver a good game against a very good team' and then if we win, let me think about how we celebrate, but not before."