QPR boss Cifuentes: Every game is like a cup final for struggling Championship side

Marti Cifuentes says QPR will now treat every game like a cup final as he tries to guide the Championship strugglers out of the relegation zone.

Two goals from Jake Livermore condemned Rangers to a 2-1 defeat against Watford on Sunday, leaving them five points from second tier safety.

QPR had the better of the chances throughout the contest but could only muster a late goal from Lyndon Dykes in response, meaning they have now gone eight games without a win.

“When you are in the position that we are in the table, you need to do twice as much to get victories,” said Cifuentes.

“We needed to have a little bit more trust [in each other]. We needed to be in the right place and the right spot because we had a lot of balls in between the keeper and the defence around the penalty spot.

 “All of the games that we have won and we have lost have been because of small margins. I don’t think the team has shown a weak performance level apart from at Millwall [in the 2-0 defeat]. We need to make sure the margins are on our side, be aggressive with and without the ball. The team is trying to do that to the best of its capabilities.

“We can check all of the data, all of it is fine. The most important thing at the end is the result. For me, the way to get a positive result week after week is to create more chances than the opponent. Some days you will lose but if you create a big gap between situations conceded and created you will win football games and that is my target.

“We know that every game is now like a cup final and we will prepare like this.”

Livermore’s brace came in the space of five second-half minutes after Sinclair Armstrong had passed up two good chances to give QPR the lead.

Although Cifuentes admitted it was vital that QPR become more clinical in upcoming home matches against Millwall and Huddersfield, he does not feel a change of approach is required.

“In the situation we are in I would like to defend under the crossbar for 90 minutes and take a victory through an own goal,” he said.

“That is the reality of where we are, it is about winning football games.

“I prefer much more to play as we did today. With the identity, the courage to play from behind and create chances and be an attacking team until the last second.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS