Queens Park Rangers

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Marti Cifuentes said his Queens Park Rangers side had played some of their best football of the season at Loftus Road as a 1-1 draw against Bristol City on Saturday edged the R's nearer to securing Championship survival.

"It felt like the first 25 minutes were excellent, perhaps the best we have played this season here at home," he told BBC London.

"It was a joy to see the energy of the players, attacking again and again.

On conceding an equaliser soon after breaking the deadlock, the Spaniard continued: "It was a bit disappointing as well I think for the guys, emotionally you could see it was not easy after creating this amount of chances in those 25 minutes and then in the first situation [Bristol City] got, they score.

"Overall the first half was very good, the second half they pushed and perhaps we should have been better to create counters and more chances."

Cifuentes said that while QPR's Championship survival is yet to be confirmed, "it looks pretty good at the moment".

He added: "Credit to the players, the fans that stick with us. Now we have these four games left to push and keep getting points."

Queens Park Rangers want to build on their win at Oxford United and finish as high up the Championship table as possible, head coach Marti Cifuentes says.

The Rs ended a run of seven matches without a victory in their 3-1 win at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday.

The result lifted the Hoops seven points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining of the season.

They host play-off chasing Bristol City on Saturday with Cifuentes keen for a win that would take them through the 50-point barrier.

"First target [is] to reach the 50 points. Second target is to see if we can improve on last season in what has been an extremely challenging season so far," Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.

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"The target is always to try to be better than what we were yesterday, let's see if we can get those three points for our fans.

"The job is not done and no matter what, we want to finish in a good way the season."

Bristol City are fifth in the table and go into the game off the back of two consecutive wins, with Haydon Roberts scoring a dramatic late winner against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

QPR go into the game without midfielder Sam Field, who injured his ankle and suffered a concussion against Oxford, as well as left-back Kenneth Paal, who injured his hamstring in the same game.

Cifuentes said strikers Michael Frey and Rayan Kolli had both been back training with the first team this week.

Bristol City travel to QPR looking to keep their bid for a Championship play-off finish on track on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Robins are fifth and hold a three-point cushion to Middlesbrough in seventh after a run of six wins in 10 games (D3 L1).

The Hoops ended a seven-game winless run with a 3-1 victory at Oxford on Wednesday and are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

• Queens Park Rangers have lost just one of their previous six games against Bristol City in the Championship (W3 D2), although that was at home in 2022-23 (0-2).

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their past seven league visits to QPR (W5 D2) since a 1-0 defeat in October 2016.

• After winning seven of their eight home league games across December, January and February, QPR are since winless in three outings at Loftus Road (D2 L1).

• Bristol City have won both of their past two league games, last winning three in a row in December 2023.

• Nahki Wells has scored in both of Bristol City's past two league games; the last time he scored in three successive league appearances was for Queens Park Rangers in January 2020.

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Queen's Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes says his side can not "feel sorry" for themselves after they suffered another injury blow to their already weakened squad.

The R's are missing several players because of injury, four of which are strikers, with Alfie Lloyd the newest addition after suffering a groin injury during the goalless draw with Cardiff at the weekend.

"Alfie's physical presence, his capacity to run in behind, was helpful for the team and he was very unfortunate to pick up that injury," the Spaniard told BBC Radio London.

However, the four may be reduced to three following an assessment on Rayan Kolli (pictured) .

The centre-forward has completed two full training sessions after missing the past nine games with a hamstring injury, and could be available for the trip to Oxford.

"He's just had two trainings with the team, so usually we'd like them to have more," Cifuentes said.

"We need to make sure we take care of him because he's a player we want to grow but he could be [available for Oxford]."

Despite having so many important players on the sidelines, Cifuentes doesn't want to ruminate on their bad luck.

"I could be moaning for hours about how unlucky we have been, but this would not help us to win," he said.

"We have done too many good things going through adversity to feel sorry for ourselves."

Oxford United welcome QPR to the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday night (19:45 BST), with just one point separating both sides in the Championship table.

The U's will be hoping to build on their stunning 1-0 win against title chasers Sheffield United over the weekend, and continue an upturn in form.

QPR on the other hand have only picked up two points since mid-February and are at serious risk of being dragged into the relegation scrap.

• This will be Oxford United's first home league game against Queens Park Rangers since September 1998, a game which they won 4-1 under Malcolm Shotton.

• After their 2-0 win in December, QPR could record their first league double over Oxford United since 1996-97.

• Oxford United have won each of their previous three midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games, scoring three goals in both of their last two.

• QPR have lost each of their past six away league outings, last losing more on the bounce in January 2015 as a Premier League club (11).

• QPR have won just one of their previous 24 away league games against newly promoted sides (D9 L14), a 3-0 victory at Hull in August 2021.

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Queen's Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes says his side are "struggling" with a lack of options in attack after a goalless draw to Cardiff City on the weekend.

The hosts began the game the stronger, with the Bluebirds unable to muster a shot on target until the 71st minute.

However, QPR were unable to capitalise despite the lack of threat from their opposition.

"I think in the first half we were perhaps slightly better than Cardiff," Cifuentes told BBC Sport.

"The feeling at half-time was that we needed – especially in a game like this with two teams not in the best moment of the season – to score the first goal of the game, but to not lose the game.

"In the second half Cardiff got a bit more energy off the bench... in the end it is a fair result.

"We are struggling with the options that we have in attacking positions, we need to give credit, because we have an honest group of players trying to do their best."

Cardiff head to London sat in the Championship relegation zone ahead of their game against Queens Park Rangers (15:00 BST).

In a congested basement-battle the Bluebirds slipped below the dotted line when Derby overcame Preston on Wednesday night, despite picking up four points from their past two games.

They are effectively two points from safety, due to their inferior goal difference, but could climb above Hull City, Derby, Oxford United and Stoke if they can pick up a win while the others lose.

The Hoops are only five points ahead of Cardiff, in 15th, after a nightmare run of one point from their past six games, though four of those defeats did come on the road.

• QPR are looking to complete a league double over Cardiff City for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign.

• Cardiff, 2-1 winners at Loftus Road last season, are looking to win consecutive league visits to QPR for the first time in the EFL.

• QPR have lost eight of their past 11 league matches (W2 D1) – since the start of this run on 25 January, the Hoops have lost the most games of any Championship side.

• Cardiff have won just four of their past 41 league matches in London (D14 L23), though two of them have been at QPR (in March 2022 and January 2024).

• Cardiff's Will Alves has three assists in his past five Championship appearances and despite only debuting for the club in February, only Rubin Colwill has more assists for the Bluebirds this season (4) than his three.

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QPR attacking midfielder Ilias Chair has been ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained against Middlesbrough.

The Morocco international was substituted in the 55th minute of his side's 2-1 defeat at Riverside Stadium on 11 March, with Hoops manager Marti Cifuentes "very concerned" at the time.

Speaking before his side's match at Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 GMT), Cifuentes said he was hopeful the 27-year-old would return before the end of the season.

"It seems like a hamstring injury that will take some time for him to recover," he told BBC Radio London.

"I think we need to take it week-by-week but there is a possibility that he might be back before the end of the season, yes."

Cifuentes said he hoped to have Jonathan Varane and Alfie Lloyd back for the Stoke trip, but captain Steve Cook would miss the game, external with a foot injury.

'Main target to avoid relegation, but I want more'

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QPR sit 15th in the Championship with 45 points, seven points clear of Derby County in the relegation zone.

The Hoops ended a run of four consecutive defeats in a 2-2 draw with league leaders Leeds United before the international break.

"I think the main target as a club is to try to avoid relegation, and then it's true that internally the way I am as a coach and together with the players, the aim was to try to push a bit more than this," Cifuentes said.

"My philosophy is 'whatever you did yesterday, try to do it better today'. That's the aim of high performance, to always have your best version.

"The target is still there for me. I won't be happy if we don't reach at least 56 points. I'm competitive and we're aligned - the players want to push."

Speaking of the match against Stoke, he added: "In the last six games they only lost one at home. In the last six games they got four clean sheets at home, so when you check those stats you can expect a difficult game."

Stoke City are one point clear of the Championship relegation zone as they prepare to host QPR on Saturday (15:00 GMT)

QPR have not won an away league game since a 2-1 victory at Hull City on 21 January.

• Stoke City have won just one of their past 11 league games against sides from London (D4 L6), failing to score in seven of those matches.

• QPR have lost just two of their past six away league games against Stoke City (W3 D1), though one of those defeats came last season at the bet365 Stadium (1-0).

• Stoke have lost just one of their past seven home league games (W3 D3), keeping five clean sheets across that time.

• QPR have lost each of their past five away league games, last enduring a longer losing run on their travels between March and August 2018 (six defeats).

• Stoke City's Sam Gallagher has scored six goals against QPR in his career – the most he's netted against any side – including one in his last home match against the London outfit, for Blackburn Rovers in February last season.

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Republic of Ireland defender Jimmy Dunne said his debut for his country "feels like a long time coming".

The Dundalk native won his first international cap as he came off the bench to help Republic of Ireland pick up a 2-1 win against Bulgaria at home in their Nations League B play-off, and a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The 27-year-old was delighted to finally make his international bow after first entering the Irish senior set-up in 2018 and having previously rejected the chance to declare for Northern Ireland.

"I'm not embarrassed to admit it is one of the proudest moments of my life - my mum and family were there so I'm incredibly proud," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Days like today make me realise that I'm glad nothing has changed [in switching international allegiances], and I stuck with it. I'm 27 now but hopefully I have a long career and there are plenty more chances to play for my country.

"Sometimes I had to park it in the back of my mind [playing for the Republic of Ireland], but I've known I've always really wanted to do it. It's a marker but I want to kick on."

The Queens Park Rangers defender praised Irish boss Heimir Hallgrimsson for giving him his debut in the promotion/relegation play-off second leg and for the advice the Icelandic coach has given him during this camp.

"There was a lot at stake tonight so it could have been very easy for the manager to stick to what he knows but he has put a lot of trust in me, and he has guided me," Dunne added.

The defender believes that the Republic are moving in the right direction ahead of the World Cup qualifiers starting in September.

"I haven't been part of this group previously and there has been a lot of criticism, but I don't think there has been any hangover from the England game [in November], we are really together, and we really believe, so there is no reason why these lads can't kick on and do wonderful things."

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Speaking after his side fought back from 2-0 down to draw at QPR, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke said:

"During this period of the season when you have to play the third game in six days and you are 2-0 down after 30 minutes, it's a good point.

"QPR deserved to be in the lead because we were poor in the first 25-30 minutes.

"What was good was the reaction of my team today. Last season we were 2-0 down after 20 minutes [QPR won the game 4-0] but today we fought back.

"Second half we were completely on it, pressed the game, had four or five good situations where we were so, so close in the six-yard box.

"Yes, of course, we wanted to win this game [but] after the story of the game it's a good point on the road."

On Willy Gnonto's performance off the bench: "I was convinced he would make an impact.

"If I had opted for Ilia Gruev [to start the match] I would also have opted for Willy Gnonto. Perhaps we would have had a better start if we had made those changes.

"The feeling is he's playing more and more to create good situations in the centre and that's what he did in the second half."

QPR are looking to end a four-game losing streak when they host Championship leaders, Leeds United on Saturday (12:30 GMT)

Three of Leeds' four league defeats this season have come away from Elland Road.

• QPR have won five of their past six home league games against Leeds (L1), keeping a clean sheet in each victory. They beat them 4-0 last April despite being 40 points behind them in the league table.

• Leeds United beat QPR 2-0 earlier this season and are looking to complete a league double over the Hoops for the first time since 2017-18.

• QPR have won seven of their past nine league games at Loftus Road (L2), although they lost 2-1 most recently against Sheffield United. They last suffered consecutive home defeats in October.

• Leeds lost 1-0 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park in their last away league game and the Whites haven't suffered consecutive away defeats since December 2023.

• Since beating QPR 3-1 in December 2017, Leeds have lost 24 of their 31 league games in London (W4 D3) and nine of the last 10 in the capital.

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QPR midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner has joined Swedish side Vasteras SK on loan, external until July.

The 24-year-old has not played for the Rs since coming off the bench in added time of their 0-0 draw at Watford in November.

Vasteras were relegated to the second tier last term and begin their season against Orebrok SK on 1 April.

Dixon-Bonner, who joined QPR from Liverpool in 2022, will stay with the Swedish side until 8 July.