Cifuentes praises players after QPR draw

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Marti Cifuentes was pleased with the battling qualities his under-strength QPR side showed in their goalless draw at Burnley.

Rangers were without Michael Frey and Kenneth Paal, who were ruled out this week, while Karamoko Dembele and Morgan Fox picked up injuries on the eve of the game and subsequently failed late fitness tests.

Burnley dominated possession at Turf Moor but the visitors defended well and earned a point.

Head coach Cifuentes said: “I’m happy because of the work ethic they showed and because of the togetherness to work together.

“We had four players out in the last 48 hours, two of them last night, and it was an extremely important point for us.

“It was a big challenge but we did well against a very good team.”

Cifuentes named two goalkeepers on the bench, with Joe Walsh joined by 24-year-old Welshman Nathan Shepperd, who joined the R’s last month.

Cifuentes explained: “Usually we travel with 22 players – 19 outfield players and an extra keeper in case something happens with a keeper.

“In the end we had to use the extra keeper as a bench player because after we did the last (fitness) tests (of Dembele and Fox) it was impossible to get anyone from London here in time for the game.”