‘A good reality check’ – QPR boss Cifuentes reacts to opening day defeat to West Brom

Marti Cifuentes described QPR’s 3-1 loss to West Brom in their Championship season opener as a “good reality check”.

Despite taking the lead in the first half through Lucas Andersen, Carlos Corberan’s side took the points courtesy of a Josh Maja hat-trick.

Rangers were largely stifled by an organised West Brom defence, only creating chances in the dying minutes when the game already appeared beyond saving.

“I’m not very satisfied about the performance,” said Cifuentes. “Checking the stats we probably had more chances but the boxes made a big difference.

“We had good moments in the first half but then we started to drop and the equaliser was a consequence of us dropping too much.

“We had plenty of [goal-scoring] situations but no clear goal chances. That was a big difference.

“It is a good reality check. Something that I’ve been talking about in the last few weeks, [is that] this league is very challenging and even though we ended last season in a good way it is not going to help us win any games this season.

“In the long term I think it will help everyone understand where we are and we need to be very humble and work very hard to achieve what we want to achieve.”

With Ilias Chair still unavailable to Cifuentes, much of the creative burden fell on the shoulders of Andersen.

The Danish playmaker did enjoy moments where he was able to influence the game but a well-organised West Brom defence proved hard to breach.

“Lucas had a very good game, but we need more from other players,” said Cifuentes.

“Alfie Lloyd has a lot of energy and brought things to the team. Rayan Kolli perhaps didn’t have his best game but he’s still a quality player and got an assist. We need to help him develop his game.

“It is my responsibility as a manager to get the best from the players and I’m sure there is much more to come from them.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS