QPR boss provides fitness updates on Ilias Chair, Chris Willock and Steve Cook following Cardiff defeat

Marti Cifuentes revealed that Ilias Chair, Chris Willock and Steve Cook all missed out on QPR’s 2-1 defeat to Cardiff after suffering muscular injuries.

All three players had to be substituted in Friday’s goalless draw at Ipswich, and none of them were involved in the matchday squad for the New Year’s Day clash at Loftus Road.

“We need to take it day by day, all of them are muscular injuries,” said Cifuentes.

“Cook a felt a problem with his calf against Ipswich so he was definitely not available for this game. He will probably be doubtful for Bournemouth [in the FA Cup next weekend].

“With Ilias it’s the same. Hopefully, they will be ready for the next Championship game [against Watford on January 14].

“With Chris we need to take it day by day. Hopefully he is available for Bournemouth but a bit of a question mark.”

Cifuentes also confirmed that Rayan Kolli had to be taken off late on against Cardiff due to injury after coming off the bench at half-time to set up a Paul Smyth equaliser.

However, goals conceded from corners to Dimitris Goutas and Perry Ng condemned QPR to a sixth consecutive game without a win and left them four points from Championship safety.

Rangers have now conceded seven times from set-pieces during Cifuentes’ time in charge, something he has vowed to improve in the coming weeks.

“All my teams in Scandinavia have been good on them,” he said.

“I take it almost personally that I will make this team good on set-pieces. We need to change things.

“I’ve been in charge 12 games and we’ve conceded 11 goals, which is quite a decent defensive performance, but seven of them have been from set-pieces which is unacceptable.

“We need to be critical of ourselves and understand in the situation where we are we cannot concede two goals from set-pieces and expect to win matches.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS