‘He deserves everything’ – Marti Cifuentes lavishes praise on Jimmy Dunne following late QPR winner

29 March 2024 Dan Evans

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes felt Jimmy Dunne deserved his spectacular late goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Birmingham City.

The Irish defender lashed a home a brilliant strike from outside of the box in the 92nd minute to help Rangers move four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Dunne has been in fine form since returning to the team just more than a month ago, making the unfamiliar position of right-back his own after losing his place in the middle of the defence at the turn of the year.

“He deserves everything,” said Cifuentes. “Players show character not only in the good moments – he will enjoy today – but also when things are not going their way.

“During the six or seven games when he was not starting, he was always the first in training, always supporting his team-mates. [He was] happy when the team was winning. I’m very happy for him. [He is a] quality human being.

“Sometimes the players can feel that we take them out because we don’t trust them but it’s not because of that, it’s because there is a lot of competition.

“Today when you look at the bench there is a lot of good players and it is not easy for me [to pick the team]. It is a good signal that everyone is pushing for a place in the starting 11.”

Dunne has displayed previously lesser seen aspects of his skillset since switching to right-back, carrying the ball from deep and contributing more in attack.

However, his wonderstrike to decide a vital relegation tussle with Birmingham was still an unexpected way for the game to be decided.

“I could say I’m the best manager in the world and that is why I put him in that position,” joked Cifuentes. “He is contributing a lot. Today he had an amazing finish, but we could see in training that he has a good left foot. It helps him to open up angles.

“That is why he is performing well in this position, because he can have a way to get out of pressure in different ways. He’s good driving forward and he’s in a confident moment.

“I am happy with how he is contributing, but not only him. Everybody is doing their job.

“We have conceded few chances over the last few games and since I took over. Credit to everybody who is contributing.”