Queens Park Rangers

Image source, PA Media

Following their 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, QPR manager Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:

"We started the game pretty well without creating a lot of chances against a team we knew would be very physical and tried to destroy our game as much as they can.

"It was not our best second half and they were more clinical than us. Paul (Nardi) made a good save from the first one but their two goals were a credit to them.

"Their keeper made a very good save from Ronnie (Edwards) but the final third could have been better.

"Refereeing should be about protecting the game as well, when there is one team that is trying to be proactive and one that is reactive, and is constantly stopping.

"Credit to them, they do it really well, and were clinical, but it seems today there were some situations that could have been reffed in a different way."

QPR announced midfielder Ilias Chair had signed a new "long-term" deal, external at Loftus Road.

The 27-year-old Morocco international has been a QPR player his entire professional career and has amassed 255 appearances for the Rs, scoring 35 goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Following their 2-0 win at QPR, Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Credit to my team. I demanded one more push this week, and it's not easy to come to QPR and take something, they've had a good run.

"The first 15 to 20 minutes was not easy, a lot of set-pieces and not-nice football, but we came step by step into the game and in the second half in the right moments, we scored and then kept the clean sheet.

"It's a really good performance. There was a feeling after the Bristol game [from others] that this was a bad season, but that's wrong.

"We were very focused, very organised and concentrated. In the second half I can't remember them having one chance against us."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked on Thursday what you think QPR need to do in the transfer market before the January window closes.

Here are some fans' responses:

Gazza: We need a striker. No offence to [Michael] Frey and [Zan] Celar but they just don't cut it at this level. Fortunately the rest of the team have all contributed very well. A special mention to Rayan Kolli, who is coming on extremely well and will be a big name within a couple of seasons. Oh, and Marti will be going nowhere folks so hands off!

Justin: Left-back - [Kenneth] Paal won't last every game. Right-back - the choices we have are poor. Central midfielder - we still look a bit light. Proper goalscorer - the last one we had was [Charlie] Austin.

Danny: Would love to see club bring in a striker! Kolli and Frey have been doing very well but if we want to push for the play-offs we need a bit more firepower! [Kader] Dembele returning will be a big boost.

Glenn: A striker.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben: I wouldn't say that QPR need to make any additions. The squad has depth, and with [Steve] Cook, Dembele and [Liam] Morrison to come back into the fold, things are looking very bright indeed.

Paul: A top-class striker who can score 10-to-15 goals a season.

Philip: After the poor start we had, which I feel was down to getting the eight new signings to gel, we are now showing how good the signings were. [Kieran] Morgan, [Jonathan] Varane, [Koki] Saito etc. have started to excel as well as Kolli, [Alfie] Lloyd performing well since they stepped up from the development squad. With the players we have already got then a play-off place is within our sight.

Malcolm: A class striker would be awesome but the reality is it's unlikely now.

Charlie: They need to get Koki Saito on the wing, get a new midfielder and also improve the defence.

Mark: We need a left-back. New contract for Jimmy Dunne.

Two teams locked together in mid-table meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as QPR host Sheffield Wednesday.

The Rs have climbed steadily up the table under Marti Cifuentes over the past couple of months and go into this game ahead of Danny Rohl's visitors on goal difference.

Both teams know they could go within a point of the play-off places with a win.

• QPR have won just one of their past six league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D2 L3), a 4-1 home victory in April 2021.

• Sheffield Wednesday won their last away league game against QPR 2-0 in April and will be looking to win two matches in succession at Loftus Road against the Hoops for the first time since October 2000.

• QPR have won each of their past five home league games and could win six in succession at Loftus Road for the first time since a run of eight victories ending in February 2004.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their past two away league games, conceding exactly three goals in each. Not since March 2021 have the Owls lost three consecutive away matches whilst conceding 3+ goals in each.

• Against no side has Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass netted more Championship goals than against QPR (3), with each of his last two coming at Loftus Road.

QPR are set to win the race for highly rated 17-year-old Aberdeen defender Timothy Akindileni. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip page.

Image source, Getty Images

QPR fans - are you dreaming? Four league wins in a row, one defeat in 13 Championship games, and only four points off a play-off spot.

Would you ever have expected this run when the Hoops were propping up the table in October?

But those who said "In Marti we trust" are being vindicated for their loyalty as the Spaniard has gotten a tune from the band after a scratchy and squeaky start.

With this fine run showing no signs of halting, and with less than two weeks of the January transfer window remaining, now seems like a good time to take stock and consider the following questions:

What areas do the Rs need to address in the transfer window?

Who would you like to see them bring in?

How far can this team go? Will they make the play-offs?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Getty Images

QPR's excellent run of form in the Championship is all down to the players, according to head coach Marti Cifuentes.

The Londoners won 2-1 at Hull City on Tuesday to make it just one defeat from their past 13 league games as they moved up to ninth place in the table.

"The players are working well, they kept the belief in what we are doing, the supporters are helping as well which is a big part of it - the togetherness we have at the moment which is a continuation of what we achieved last season," Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.

"Hopefully it won't be many but we are going to lose another game at some point so we need to keep understanding there are areas of our game we can keep improving."

Rangers are now only four points short of the play-off places having been bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety on 26 November.

"We need to understand good trends can end so we need to maximise this moment," added Cifuentes.

QPR host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday looking for a sixth successive home win.

Chelsea academy graduate Harvey Vale has attracted the eye of Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Oxford United as well as overseas interest. (Sky Sports, external)

The Black Cats and QPR are also interested in Celtic winger Luis Palma, who is also drawing the eye of Stoke City and Swansea City. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Image source, Getty Images

Queens Park Rangers boss Martin Cifuentes has told BBC Radio London he is "very happy" following his side's fourth consecutive Championship win- a 2-1 victory at Hull City- which has moved the R's up to a season-high ninth in the league.

"I'm very happy and I think we need to give value to the team because it is a difficult team away [from home] against a team that has changed a lot since when we faced them last time," the 42-year-old said.

"Today, the pitch was not at a level that a league like this deserves so it was very difficult to play how we wanted but still we scored two goals."

The Spaniard also heaped praise on Koki Saito following his superb individual second-half goal on Tuesday night, adding, "we knew that from his time in the Netherlands, that's exactly his specialty.

"That's where he makes the x-factor moments. Hopefully, today will be a little bit of a relief to him."

Coventry City, QPR, Millwall and Stoke City are battling for the signature of Crystal Palace's Jeffrey Schlupp. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Hull City host QPR as they attempt to climb up the table on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Tigers found success against a London club last time out, taking a 1-0 victory in a visit to Millwall, while QPR scored once to beat basement side Plymouth Argyle.

Hull have a had a good run of results at the MKM Stadium under the charge of new boss Ruben Selles - and they will need that to continue as they hover one place above the relegation zone.

• Hull have won each of their past two league games against QPR, scoring three goals in each match. The Tigers have not won three matches against the London club in succession since October 1963.

• QPR have won two of their past 15 away league games against Hull (D7 L6), while they have not scored on each of their previous two league trips there.

• Hull have lost one of their four home league games under Ruben Selles (W1 D2 L1), picking up as many points (5) as in their prior eight such games (W1 D2 L5).

• QPR have won three of their past four midweek league games (W3 L1), having won one of their prior 18 (W1 D7 L10).

• QPR's Ilias Chair has been involved in five goals in his past eight Football League games against Hull (4 goals, 1 assist), though all four of his goals against the Tigers have come in home games.

Image source, Rex Features

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes was pleased with his side's 1-0 win at Plymouth but said they created enough chances to win by more.

"I am very happy, not only for the result but the fact it is not easy to come here and get three points as Plymouth's home form has been stable," he said following the game.

"The way we performed, we created enough chances to not suffer. It was a very strong performance from a collective point of view and some really good individual performances as well.

"We know taking chances is the difference between being high and low in the table but the reality is that we had five or six clear chances. Their keeper made some brilliant saves.

"I am very pleased with all the players from the bench. The squad rotation is important and everyone is ready to contribute.

"The way we finished the game with fresh legs and on the counter, those small details are really valuable."

Miron Muslic takes charge of his second home game as Plymouth boss in the space of four days as QPR head to Home Park on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT).

Argyle remain bottom, effectively four points from safety because of their goal difference, and are now 11 behind QPR, who have risen up to 13th off the back of a run of 21 points from their past 10 matches.

• Plymouth Argyle have lost just one of their past 14 league games against QPR since December 2004 (W4 D9), though six of their last seven meetings with the London side have ended in draws (L1).

• QPR have failed to win any of their past eight away league games against Argyle (D4 L4), scoring exactly one goal in each of their last seven visits.

• Plymouth have failed to win any of their past six league games against sides from London (D3 L3), scoring just two goals across those matches.

• Since the beginning of December only Leeds United (18) have won more points in the Championship than Queens Park Rangers (17), who have won five of eight matches in that period (D2 L1), after winning just two of their first 18 league matches this season (D9 L7).

• Michael Frey has scored in his past two league appearances and could be the first QPR player to net in three straight Championship outings since Chris Willock in December 2023; five of the Swiss striker's six Championship goals have come at home, however.

Image source, Getty Images

Queens Park Rangers forward Alfie Lloyd has signed a new contract at Loftus Road, calling it the proudest day of his career.

The 21-year-old has made 19 appearances for the Hoops, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in September.

Lloyd is the second player in as many days to commit his future to the club after Rangers announced midfielder Kieran Morgan had signed a new "long-term" contract on Tuesday.

"This is the proudest day of my career so far," Lloyd told the club website. , external

"To be able to extend my stay at this great club is a brilliant feeling.

"I don't want to get too high about it because it is a continuation of what I have already been doing but I am just grateful that Christian [Nourry, chief executive] and the gaffer [Marti Cifuentes] have given me this opportunity to continue my development here."

QPR have not revealed the lengths of the deals signed by Lloyd or Morgan.

The Rs are unbeaten in three Championship games and travel to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.