Cifuentes bemoans QPR’s ‘bad and costly’ start to second half
Marti Cifuentes admitted QPR were punished for a terrible start to the second half against Portsmouth.
Rangers were beaten 2-1 at Fratton Park. where they conceded two goals in the space of three minutes shortly after the interval.
Josh Murphy scored with a brilliant strike from long range before Matt Ritchie netted following a mistake by Steve Cook.
After Cook gave the ball away, Murphy pounced and played the ball across towards Ritchie, who fired into the roof of the net.
Jimmy Dunne pulled a goal back for the R’s but they were unable to find an equaliser.
“It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance,” said Cifuentes.
“The start of the second half was bad and costly for us.”
Head coach Cifuentes made just one change to his starting line-up from the recent 4-0 thrashing of Derby.
On-loan Tottenham youngster Yang Min-hyeok played a starring role in that game, having replaced Paul Smyth in the side.
Smyth was restored against Pompey, with South Korean Yang dropping to the bench – partly because of the raucous atmosphere at Fratton Park and the home side’s aggressive style of play.
Cifuentes explained: “I have no doubt after being in England for 15 months that the emotional part of the game is more important than other leagues I’ve coached in – and I’ve been fortunate enough now to coach in five or six different countries.
“If you look at our 11 starting today, one of the reasons we started with Smythy instead of Yang, who had a very good game in the last game, was because of trying to have on the pitch as many players as we could that know this kind of environment – this hostility, this pressure and these emotions that you need to handle.”
Meanwhile, Koki Saito was taken off injured late on after being clattered by former QPR midfielder Andre Dozzell.
Cifuentes said: “Koki unfortunately had to be subbed because he got a big knock on his nose and his mouth.
“I think it’s a crazy elbow, but I need to see again the situation (on video).”
