Queens Park Rangers

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QPR boss Marti Cifuentes was left with mixed feelings after conceding a late goal in his side's 1-1 draw at Norwich City.

"We performed at a good level in the first half, the guys showed personality and enthusiasm," he told the club website., external

"The second half was not the picture that we wanted. We started to drop lower."

Cifuentes still has reason to take pride as his side closed the gap to five places to Norwich, having been 14 places below the Canaries at the end of November.

"The guys showed big commitment, it's difficult to be critical with the way they work," the R's manager said.

"Always my goal - even if we are leading - is to try and score the second [goal].

"To be fair, Norwich deserved their equaliser because they were pushing."

Andy Rowley
BBC Radio London

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What do QPR need in January?

With a fully-fit squad they look solid in goal, defence and central midfield but need cover at full-back and strengthening in attack.

Top scorer Michael Frey has four goals in all competitions, and had been out injured for two months before returning off the bench against Preston before Christmas, while Sam Field, Jimmy Dunne and Rayan Kolli are the next on the list with three.

Zan Celar has struggled since joining the club in the summer and scored his first two goals at the end of November, while one of their biggest players, Ilias Chair, has yet to score after an injury-disrupted start to the season.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

You would expect they will be looking at the areas mentioned above, but in terms of goalscorers, they will find it a difficult market in January. They went into the season with two recognised strikers in the squad and we've seen the risk that poses.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

There has not been too much to shout about in recent years, although the signings of Lucas Andersen (from Aalborg BK) and Michael Frey (from Royal Antwerp) could be said to have made a difference last season as both featured in a strong second half of the campaign, scoring one goal each.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

It looks unlikely that anyone will be leaving, given they really need everyone they have and I am not sure they would be inclined to sell unless it was an offer they couldn't refuse.

How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?

There were quite high hopes after the strong finish to last season. But a poor run of results from mid-September for a couple of months drained a lot of that. Things picked up with a seven-game unbeaten run, including four wins and four clean sheets, that ended at Swansea on Boxing Day.

It could be important to get a forward in to help young Kolli, who has shown good potential and scored two important goals off the bench against Norwich and another against Preston.

Norwich City welcome Queens Park Rangers to Carrow Road on Sunday in a clash between two sides with very different records as of late.

QPR sit 17th in the Championship, four points adrift of the 12th-placed Canaries. But with just one loss in their previous eight matches, the Rs have closed the gap between themselves and their upcoming hosts, who on Boxing Day picked up their first win in five to halt a recent slide down the league table.

Sunday's visitors also emerged victorious from the last meeting between these two sides, which finished 3-0 in west London earlier this month.

• Norwich have lost just one of their last 19 home league games against QPR (W13 D5), losing 1-0 back in September 2008.

• QPR have scored just one goal in their last six league visits to Norwich City (D2 L4) with Bright Osayi-Samuel scoring a penalty in a 1-1 draw in 2020-21.

• Norwich have won their final league game in just one of the last 13 calendar years (D6 L6), beating Aston Villa in the Premier League in 2015.

• QPR have ended the year with a league win in just two of the last 13 calendar years (D6 L5), winning 2-1 at Wolves in 2016 and 2-1 at Bristol City in 2021.

• Queens Park Rangers have won just one of their last 25 away league games against sides beginning with N (D10 L14), winning 1-0 at Nottingham Forest in December 2018.

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QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes speaking to BBC after their 3-0 loss to Swansea:

"It was a disappointing first half. We knew Swansea would try to start strongly and they are a side that likes to control possession.

"We knew we needed to defend our box well because they are a team that likes to cross a lot, but we were late in the duels and gave them the extra second that makes the difference in quality players breaking the lines.

"Our first half was very poor and we weren't at the level we were in our last few games. We gave them the opportunities to score.

"The second half was about showing pride and to compete for the fans who had travelled. We made a step forward.

"We talked about trying to score in the opening minutes of the second half to try to make a comeback but it wasn't enough. We have to move on."

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Luke Williams reckons Queens Park Rangers may now be showing their true colours having pulled clear of the Championship relegation scrap thanks to a seven-game unbeaten run.

Rangers looked to be in for an arduous campaign as they won only one of their first 16 league matches in 2024-25, with pressure on boss Marti Cifuentes.

But the London club visit Swansea on 26 December (15:00 GMT) buoyed by a spectacular turnaround in form which has seen them take 15 points from their last seven league outings.

Victory in Swansea would see the Hoops, who are up to 14th in the table, climb above their hosts and potentially into the top half as both sides reach the halfway point in the Championship campaign.

"This could be an example of a team who have been in a false position and the second half of the season will be in reverse for them," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"We have to make sure we prepare correctly because it's almost a unique fixture in the calendar because of the festivities and the change in people's routines.

"It's going to be a really difficult game because they are in a very, very different place to where they have been."

While Rangers are enjoying their best run of the season, they may have to do without influential defender Steve Cook after the former Bournemouth player came off during last Saturday's 2-1 win over Preston North End.

Swansea are likely to have the same squad as they did for their miserable defeat at Hull City last weekend.

There are only two points between Swansea City and QPR going into Thursday's game, the Swans sitting in 11th and the Hoops 14th.

Swansea have won just one game in their past five and are level on points with Bristol City.

QPR are seven points above the relegation zone and have found some decent form as of late with three wins and two draws in their past five games.

• Swansea City have won one of their last seven league games against QPR (D3 L3), a 1-0 home win in the 2022-23 season.

• QPR have won three of their last four away league matches against Swansea (L1), winning all three by a 1-0 scoreline in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24.

• Swansea City have lost five of their last six league games on Boxing Day, but the other game was a 2-0 win over QPR in 2020.

• QPR have won one of their last 10 league matches on Boxing Day (D2 L7), failing to score in each of their last four since a 3-0 win over Ipswich in 2018.

• Queens Park Rangers are winless in their last 22 away games on Boxing Day (D7 L15) since Alec Stock led them to a 1-0 win over Plymouth in 1967.

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Queens Park Rangers captain Steve Cook will miss at least the next 10 days with a foot injury.

Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes previously said he would not "play doctor" and predict the severity of the injury to the centre-back.

The 33-year-old was injured in his side's 2-1 comeback victory over Preston North End at Loftus Road on Saturday.

The club said in an update that a scan confirmed Cook suffered a plantar fascia injury which does not require surgery.

Cook will be assessed in 10 days, they added, but it is currently unclear the exact amount of time he will be absent.

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QPR boss Marti Cifuentes said he would not "play doctor" and predict the severity of the injury to Hoops captain Steve Cook.

The 33-year-old centre-back was injured in his side's 2-1 comeback victory over Preston North End at Loftus Road on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead in controversial fashion when Milutin Osmajic scored past Rangers keeper Paul Nardi with Cook down with what looked like a serious injury.

Rayan Kolli equalised early in the second half before Jimmy Dunne's third goal of the season in the 89th minute earned the home side a crucial three points that moved them up to 14th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Cifuentes said he did not know the severity of Cook's injury, with his skipper due to have a scan on Sunday.

"That's the only negative part - that we got another injury," he said.

"I don't want to play doctor. Let's see the test. He felt an acute pain.

"It seems it's the sole – a soft-tissue issue. We need to make some tests. I've spoken with him and we're not sure if it's going to be a big one or not, but he was in some pain."

Cifuentes has been hampered with injuries to key players, such as Ilias Chair, Kader Dembele, Michael Frey, Jake Clarke-Salter and Jack Colback for much of this season.

Frey returned from the bench on Saturday in a welcome sight for QPR, while Zan Celar remains out injured.

Rangers have now gone seven games unbeaten and travel to Swansea City on Boxing Day.

QPR welcome Preston to west London on Saturday with both sides seeking to make it seven games unbeaten.

The Lilywhites are a point and two places ahead of the 18th-placed Rs but the sides have identical wins, goals scored and conceded as they have hauled themselves away from the relegation zone.

• QPR won each of their two league games against Preston North End last season without conceding a goal and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time.

• Preston North End have won five of their past eight away league games against QPR (L3), scoring 2+ goals in six of those matches.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past six league games (W3 D3), keeping four clean sheets in their last five – the same amount the London side had kept across their prior 22 league outings combined.

• Preston have won just one of their past 11 league games (D8 L2), though their sole victory in that time did come during their last away match in a 2-0 success over Cardiff City.

• No player in the Championship has won more duels than QPR's Jimmy Dunne so far this season (170), while the defender also ranks third league-wide for clearances made (116).

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Marti Cifuentes says it would be a 'huge mistake' for QPR to assume they have turned a corner despite extending their unbeaten run to six games with a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

Rangers were bottom of the table less than three weeks ago but have climbed to 18th place, five points above the bottom three after collecting 11 points from a possible 15.

Head coach Cifuentes told BBC Radio London: "This is a relentless, ruthless league and you need to be on top of your qualities every time.

"It'd be a huge mistake as a team, as a club, to think that everything is fine. Football is about small margins, right now those small margins are helping us to get points and of course the team keeps growing.

"But the reality is there are a lot of things we need to improve and hopefully everyone can understand that."

QPR failed to register a shot at goal in the first half at Ashton Gate but improved after the break as Paul Smyth's remarkable 40-yard chip into an unguarded net cancelled out Scott Twine's free-kick.

Young striker Alfie Lloyd provided more attacking threat after coming on at half-time and Cifuentes added: "Alfie is coming back from injury, he's still on his way back to match fitness and it was a step in the right direction.

"He did really well, running in behind and giving the centre-halves some difficulties."

Bristol City host QPR at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon and after contrasting starts to the season, the teams are separated by just five points ahead of kick-off.

The Robins have one win in five while the Rs are unbeaten in five and have kept four straight clean sheets to climb away from the foot of the table.

Quirky one this fixture, eight of the last nine meetings have been won by the away side, with the other game a draw.

• After winning six consecutive league games against QPR between 2018 and 2020, Bristol City have won just two of the past seven against the London side (D1 L4).

• QPR have won each of their past four away league games against Bristol City after failing to win on any of their 10 previous visits (D4 L6).

• Bristol City have lost just two of their past 14 home league games (W7 D5), keeping seven clean sheets in that run, including in their most recent home game against Plymouth (4-0).

• QPR have failed to score in five of their past six away league games (W1 D2 L3), though have kept a clean sheet in three of their past four road games, as many as in the 14 before that.

• Only Plymouth Argyle (18) have had fewer shots on target away from home in the Championship this season than QPR (21).

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QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes hailed Sam Field's impact after the midfielder scored both goals to help the Rs to an important win over Oxford United.

Field struck twice in the opening stages of the second half - his first goals of the season - to haul the Hoops away from the bottom five of the Championship.

A fourth straight clean sheet made it five games unbeaten for Rangers and Cifuentes told BBC Radio London: "It was a difficult game - I knew this would be as Oxford are in a similar place to us in the table.

"You could see the expectation from our fans in the first half – they have a taste for good football. We were disappointed about the first-half performance but we knew we could adjust some details. We were definitely the better side in the second half."

Field scored on 53 and 68 minutes and his boss added: "He has been playing in the number six and number eight. Every time he plays number eight he shows the capacity to get into the second line and get onto the second ball.

"We need to keep encouraging him. It was not an easy decision to drop Kieran Morgan after a fantastic performance against Norwich, but we felt it was important to introduce some fresh legs. Sam is an important person in the dressing room."

QPR also secured a fourth successive clean sheet and their sixth overall in the Championship, all of which have been earned in the last nine games - outlining their improvement.

"I am pleased for Sam, but everyone else who is contributing," Cifuentes added.

"To have four clean sheets is satisfying. We have been defending well. I am pleased that Paul [Nardi] hasn't had much work to do, and that says a lot about how the team is getting better.

"The fans have been fantastic and now we want to give them something back."