‘Everyone’s Pulling In The Same Direction’ – A View On QPR
- Queens Park Rangers are tackling Leicester City at King Power Stadium on Saturday
- The Hoops sit 21st in the Sky Bet Championship and are looking to avoid relegation
- Journalist Ian McCullough analysed the capital club’s season to date
- Manager Martí Cifuentes has had a positive impact on the squad, he says
The situation appeared bleak for QPR earlier this term but since the appointment of Spaniard Martí Cifuentes, the tide has certainly turned in their favour. Now sitting 21st, following back-to-back victories over Bristol City and then Rotherham United, it looks much more promising and there is hope that a fairly remarkable season can end with their Sky Bet Championship status remaining intact.
The reporter explained: “They beat Rotherham at home last Saturday and climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since the end of September. When Leicester last played QPR, it was the last game of Gareth Ainsworth’s tenure as manager.
“It didn’t work out. They were seven points adrift and had a poor goal difference. It’s been a slow grind, but they’ve managed to clamber their way out of it. Confidence has been pretty high.
“They’ve lost one of the last seven after a game against Watford which they should have won but lost 2-1 at home. Since then, it’s been reasonably solid apart from defeat to Stoke. It’s still a massive ask to get out from where they are but by winning, other teams are getting dragged into it. It’s exciting down the bottom.”
According to McCullough, their new manager has played a key role in the upturn in fortunes, while the availability of several first team players allows him to select his best XI week, in week out.
“Cifuentes is only 41,” he continued. "They brought him in from Hammarby in Sweden, but he’s a career coach. He’s got no playing career and has been really impressive. He speaks well, communicates very well, has got the crowd on side and the fans are really behind him.
“The players are playing for him. That’s been the key – everyone feels like they are pulling in the same direction now. Everyone is fit. Most importantly, the two centre-backs, veteran Steve Cook and Jake Clarke-Salter, have played most of this season.
“They now have a manager playing the football which suits the attacking players they’ve got; that helps. Chris Willock scored a cracking goal last week to beat Rotherham and set up the first goal.
“Where they have strengthened is in the middle of the park. Isaac Hayden from Newcastle has been a good signing and they’ve got Joe Hodge on loan from Wolves. The Ireland U21s captain has hit the ground running.”
Analysing the prospect of gaining a positive result at King Power Stadium, McCullough acknowledged that it will be far from easy, despite Leicester losing their last two in the league, but does believe the Hoops could have some danger men to potentially hurt the hosts.
He added: “Paul Smyth the winger has a bit of pace about him. Sinclair Armstrong is a very young and raw winger but is powerful and pacy. They might use that to try and get in behind. I imagine that will be the game plan. They’ll give Leicester a game but it’ll be very difficult.
“They are a lot more solid than they were earlier in the season. If they can hold Leicester for an hour or so, they have the players to pass and move, pick them off and perhaps get a goal. The talent is there, but you have to get the ball first. Leicester are going to dominate the ball.”