Queens Park Rangers

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Queens Park Ranger's manager Marti Cifuentes says his side have to learn from defeat against Sheffield United before they face West Brom next weekend.

Speaking to BBC Radio London the Hoops manager said: "We are going to play a quality side in West Brom who are pushing for the play-offs with an experienced manager.

"We need to learn from this one and keep improving in the areas where we know we can do better."

QPR pushed the Blades hard in the second half as they searched for an equaliser but could not find a way to break the league's second-placed side down.

Cifuentes said: "We are disappointed and sad. In many aspects I think we performed at a high level against a very good side. I think we really pushed to get a better result but despite we create more chances and controlled many parts of the game it was not enough.

"They scored a quality goal with a great strike but then we kept pushing and dominated large parts of the game. When you play against side's of the quality it is important not to make mistakes and the two goals were something we could have done better."

Sheffield United could find themselves eight points adrift of Leeds by the time their game at QPR kicks-off at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

The second-placed Blades had taken 21 points from a possible 24 before Monday's dramatic defeat against the leaders at Bramall Lane.

Though they begin the day in 14th, Rangers are within seven points of fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion and have taken 21 points from a possible 24 infront of their own fans since early December.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past three league games against Sheffield United (W1 D2), a run directly following a sequence of five consecutive losses against the Blades between 2018 and 2022.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten across their past three away league games against QPR (W2 D1) – they've never done so in four in a row against the Hoops before.

• Sheffield United have lost eight of their past nine away league games against sides from London (W1), though that sole victory did come on their last visit to the capital during a 1-0 win over Millwall.

• QPR have won seven of their past eight home league games (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• Sheffield United have won their past four away league games, last winning five in a row on the road between October and December 2022.

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Marti Cifuentes admitted that QPR struggled to impose themselves against Portsmouth after watching his side slip to a 2-1 defeat at Fratton Park.

Rangers started the second half badly, conceding twice inside the first six minutes and were unable to recover, going down to a third consecutive away defeat despite pulling a goal back through Jimmy Dunne.

"It was not easy to impose our way of playing, to try to put the ball on the ground and activate the third man because they press so intensely," the QPR head coach told BBC Radio London 94.9.

"Definitely the start of the second half was bad and very costly for us. (Josh) Murphy scored a really good goal and the key for us was the way we reacted to this goal.

"Unfortunately it took a little bit of time until we understood it was 2-0 and it was perhaps too late. But still after Jimmy's goal there could easily have been one or two more."

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QPR chairman Lee Hoos says he is "really pleased" with how the club has transformed their season after a disappointing start to the campaign.

The Hoops won just one of their opening 15 games (D7 L7) and were bottom of the Championship, five points adrift of safety, after they lost 2-0 at Leeds on 9 November.

But 10 wins from the 18 matches have followed since then, a run which has included seven and five-game unbeaten streaks, has propelled them up to 13th.

Marti Cifuentes' side are now just four points outside the play-off spots with 13 games remaining, and 15 points clear of danger.

"It's going very well - it would have been a different conversation back at the end of November, beginning of December but we've seen a big turnaround," Hoos told BBC's 72+: The EFL Podcast.

"Really, really pleased with how things are going, so fingers crossed, long may it continue."

Hoos, 57, credited "multiple factors" for the upturn in results, including a great effort from the performance department, recruitment team and medical staff, as well as the players and boss Cifuentes.

After stepping back from his role as CEO in January 2024, Hoos hired Christian Nourry as his replacement and praised the job the 27-year-old has done.

"With Christian, we've got a young, dynamic CEO who is very good," Hoos said, also citing Nourry's impressive understanding of data and analytics.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's been a really great appointment and the working relationship we've developed has been fantastic."

Hoos added: "Let's see where we can take this thing."

Listen to 72+: The EFL Podcast on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth are looking to win three games on the bounce for the first time this season in the Championship when they welcome QPR to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone after beating Cardiff and Oxford in their past two games and will hope to pull further away from danger.

The Hoops are 13th but only four points off the top six and still in contention for a play-off spot.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in October last year, Portsmouth will be looking to record a first league double over QPR since the 1961-62 season.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past three visits to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in the league (W1 D2), since a 3-0 defeat in August 1998.

• Following wins over Cardiff and Oxford, Portsmouth are looking for three consecutive three Championship victories for the first time since winning six in a row in February/March 2011.

• QPR have won six of their nine Championship matches in 2025 (L3), with only Leeds (21), Sheffield United (21) and Coventry (19) winning more points so far this year than the Hoops (18).

• Ilias Chair has been directly involved in six goals in his past nine Championship appearances for Queens Park Rangers (2 goals, 4 assists) although he's yet to score an away goal this season.

John Eustace takes charge of Derby County for the first time as the Rams head to London to face Queens Park Rangers on Friday (20:00 GMT).

While County are fourth-bottom and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, they have drawn their past two games, following a run of seven straight defeats since the Boxing Day victory over West Bromwich Albion.

QPR have lost three of their past four to fall to 13th but remain just six points adrift of the play-off places.

• QPR have won four of their past six league games against Derby County (L2), as many victories as across their prior 20 meetings with the Rams combined (D8 L8).

• Derby County have won just two of their past 10 away league games against QPR (D4 L4), with both of those victories coming via 1-0 scorelines in December 2016 and January 2021.

• QPR have won six of their past seven home league games (L1), one more than in their previous 23 matches (W5 D9 L9).

• Since a 2-1 win at Coventry in November, Derby are winless in their past eight away league games (D3 L5).

• QPR have won only one of their past 12 league games against newly promoted sides (D3 L8), though that win came in their most recent game against Oxford United in December (2-0).

Image source, Rex Features

QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi says he remains upbeat despite his side's late 1-0 defeat at Coventry City on Tuesday evening.

The 30-year-old made a string of saves to keep the Sky Blues at bay, and looked set for an eighth Championship clean sheet of the season, before Bobby Thomas' stoppage-time goal.

"This morning we saw some positive things with the gaffer, so we don't have to see everything back," Nardi told BBC Radio London on Wednesday.

"I think we did some very good things but it (the loss) is football and we have to accept this."

The R's are currently 13th in the Championship table, four points of the play-off places.

Despite three defeats in their past four matches, Nardi says he is looking forward to Friday's home match against Derby County.

"It's the QPR mentality to fight for every ball, to fight in every game, and I think we have to continue in this way," he added.

"We already want it to be Friday. It is exciting even more to get back home. We want to play even more after a last-minute defeat. We want to go again."

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QPR have to move on quickly from the disappointment of conceding a late goal in their 1-0 defeat by Coventry in the Championship, according to head coach Marti Cifuentes.

Sky Blues defender Bobby Thomas headed home the only goal in the fifth minute of injury time to condemn the Londoners to a third league defeat in their past four matches.

"We have been on the other side celebrating late goals but today is the opposite and we have to learn from it and move on," Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.

"The whole changing room was angry and disappointed which is how I want to see my players when we lose a game like this. Most importantly, good teams react strongly after defeats and understand what is needed to change the dynamic.

"We are a young team as you can see from the players we had on at the end and usually you grow a lot through pain and it's something we'll learn quite well this season."

QPR host struggling Derby in the Championship on Friday 14 February.

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Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes says the Championship table has an "artificial" look for his side at the moment despite their gathering play-off momentum.

The Hoops, in 13th, take on fellow top-six challengers Coventry City on Tuesday with both teams only three points adrift of that leading group.

But Cifuentes is not interested in making any predictions with 15 games still to play for his side and another set of matches to come in the division on Wednesday.

"It's an artificial situation based on us having played one more game than many other other teams," he told BBC Radio London.

"I'm not thinking about the play-offs, I'm not thinking about the table. The reality comes in the last six games of the season and perhaps then is when you have a look and say 'that's where we are and that's what we need to do'."

What Cifuentes is more interested in at the moment the progress his side has made after narrowly avoiding relegation last season thanks to finishing the campaign with three straight wins.

"The target this season was very clear - to improve on what we did last season and not to suffer as much as we did.

"We're putting ourselves in a good position to do that but there is still a lot of games to go."

In QPR's way next are the Sky Blues, whose four-game winning run under Frank Lampard ended against stylish Leeds United last Wednesday.

After back-to-back defeats, QPR responded by beating Blackburn last week and Cifuentes says that trait of character is what he wants to see maintained.

"It was one of the strengths we had last season and and we've shown it again this season," he said.

"They are very resilient mentally. If we get beaten it's by a small margin and that shows a lot about the commitment and their mental strength.

"Frank has done really well [at Coventry]. They've won four of the last five and are on a really strong trend."

Coventry City welcome QPR on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT) with both sides four points off the Championship play-off spots and looking to keep within touching distance.

The Sky Blues were knocked out of the FA Cup by Ipswich at the weekend and had suffered only their second league loss in nine games (W5 D2) at home to Leeds last week.

QPR bounced back from two straight defeats to beat Blackburn in their most recent game, meaning they have won six of their previous eight.

• Coventry City have won three of their past five league games against QPR (D1 L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• QPR are looking to win consecutive league visits to Coventry for the first time since winning three in a row between 1992 and 1995.

• Coventry's four consecutive league wins were halted by a 2-0 loss to Leeds United last time out. The Sky Blues haven't lost back-to-back Championship games since October under Mark Robins.

• Since the start of December, only Leeds United (9) have won more Championship games than Queens Park Rangers (8), with the Hoops picking up 63% of their points for the season across those 13 games (26/41 – W8 D2 L3).

• Ilias Chair has five assists in his past 10 Championship appearances for QPR, only one fewer than in his previous 46 combined (6). He also scored in a 2-1 away victory over Coventry on the final day of last season.

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On Wednesday we asked what you made of QPR's business in the transfer window.

The club added Chelsea's Harvey Vale on deadline day, Ronnie Edwards already feels like a staple in Marti Cifuentes' side, Tottenham loanee Yang Min-Hyeok looked lively in his first two appearances and, despite a bid from promotion-chasers Sheffield United, Jimmy Dunne remains an Rs player.

Here are some of your responses:

Matthew: Edwards is a truly class act - would love to keep him. Great that they've signed Vale too - obviously, he won't play until next season, but it's really encouraging to know that the club are forward-thinking, rather than firefighting, like we've been at this point every year since Warbs [ex-boss Mark Warburton] left.

Richard: We have a very young, developing squad and will be a threat for promotion next season. In Marti we trust and if he stays we will make a push for the play-offs but are nowhere near ready for promotion. We create as many chances as anyone but need to be more clinical.

Phil: There seems to be a plan in place to bring in the next generation of players which is exactly what we need. Marti is a very talented coach who knows what he wants and needs, so we should back him. Keeping him is another question!

Mark: We kept Dunne which is massive for us. At the moment he is the best defender in the league, certainly in the air. The business we did in the transfer window appears excellent. Edward's is a classy player and is showing he's too good for this league already. Vale is highly rated at Chelsea and the young lad from Spurs has had two decent games so far. But it's our business we did away from the transfer window that impressed me. Long-term contracts for Morgan, Kolli and Lloyd shows us a team that finally has a plan going forward.

Anthony: These new players will strengthen a new-look QPR but as for them achieving promotion, it's a season too soon. Wait till next season to see what Marti and his team will do.

Philip: Good window. Investing in youth is the way forward and the biggest signing would be Dunne to sign a new contract. Will improve on last year but will not quite get play-offs. Next season we should be able to challenge for promotion if we keep this squad.

Steve: In Marti we trust…I think we have got all areas covered now and hopefully will finish the season on an upward curve. Jimmy staying is a big plus too. Players coming back into the playing squad also. Top-half finish would be great after the start we had.

Dean: Pretty good, could've done with a striker, but really happy with the attacking options and the depth of the squad. Really think we can push on now and reaching the play-offs is a possibility. It seems that the squad have been briefed that they can do this.

David: Think the team has been great since mid-November, but still believe we are a mid-table team. Those above have deeper squads, and better quality. Would have liked them to sign a 20-goal a season striker, maybe from a potential relegation team, Jamie Vardy would have been ideal.

Nigel: Well pleased, no major losses and some interesting youngsters. Would be great if we could sure up Dunne on long-term contract and maybe get a couple of the youngsters signed up permanently.

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Queens Park Rangers' Marti Cifuentes, Sunderland's Regis Le Bris, Cardiff's Omer Riza and Oxford United's Gary Rowett are the four nominees for the Championship's manager of the month award for January.

It's a second straight nomination for Cifuentes, who guided the Hoops to four wins from their five matches in the month to pull further away from danger and towards the play-off pack.

Le Bris's Sunderland kept pace with the automatic promotion race off the back of an unbeaten month, picking up 11 points from five matches, including a 2-1 win over rivals Sheffield United and a goalless draw at Burnley.

Riza also guided Cardiff to an unbeaten month, taking 10 points from six matches, including a memorable 3-0 win over Swansea City in the south Wales derby, and a comeback at Millwall to snatch a 2-2 draw in the dying seconds.

Oxford United's resurgence under Rowett continued with an unbeaten January, claiming 12 points from six matches to haul the U's away from the relegation zone and into mid-table.

The winner of the award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Queens Park Rangers left it late to complete their transfer business - announcing the signing of Chelsea's Harvey Vale after the winter window closed at 23:00 GMT on Monday.

Brazilian left-back Esquerdinha and Archie O'Brien also came in on deadline day and will initially join up with the development squad.

Ronnie Edwards already feels like a staple in Marti Cifuentes' side, comfortable in the middle and at right-back, since moving to Loftus Road on loan from Southampton on New Year's Day.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-Hyeok made a lively cameo off the bench in Saturday's derby defeat by Millwall before getting more minutes in Tuesday's victory over Blackburn Rovers.

And despite a bid from promotion chasers Sheffield United, Jimmy Dunne is still a QPR player.

So, Rs fans - now you've had a couple of days to reflect, how are you feeling about the transfer dealings?

Is the squad stronger than the one that saw in 2025? And just how far can they go this season?

Let us know and leave your comments here.

Image source, PA Media

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes spoke to BBC Radio London after Jack Colbeck's 76th-minute strike gave his side a 2-1 home win over fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers.

"Blackburn showed why they are that high in the table because they were dangerous every time they were in the final third," he said.

"We spoke a lot about how they are a very good transition team. We showed energy, focus and commitment as a team, in that sense. The energy of the fans was fantastic and helped us very much.

"We had a very strong first half. We could have scored another and we said at half-time that it was time to keep pushing. The start of the second was more challenging, but we were very good overall.

"I'm very pleased for Jack. He's been having a difficult season with injuries. We really needed his experience in a moment when the team was struggling and it was a fantastic performance.

"We got 56 points last season and our target was to improve on that. I don't think we need to get very carried away."