Soccer

Marti Cifuentes wants QPR to remain humble after upturn in recent form

Rangers are unbeaten in five league matches and leapfrogged Oxford into 19th place in the Championship after successive home wins.

QPR manager Marti Cifuentes wants his side to stayhumble after their upturn in form
QPR manager Marti Cifuentes wants his side to stayhumble after their upturn in form (Steven Paston/PA)

Marti Cifuentes urged QPR to be “humble” after Sam Field’s second-half double fired them to a 2-0 win over Oxford.

Field’s first Sky Bet Championship goals of the season made it back-to-back home wins for Rangers, who had not won in front of their own fans this term until Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich.

They are now five games unbeaten – having won just one of their first 16 – and edged further away from the drop zone and above fellow strugglers Oxford into 19th place.

However, the first half was a forgettable affair and the fans were unimpressed.

But Rangers broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second when Paul Smyth swung a cross in from the right.

Teenager Rayan Kolli, the two-goal hero against Norwich, got up above Oxford skipper Elliott Moore and headed the ball back to Field, who swept home from eight yards.

Rangers struck again in the 68th minute after a mistake by Oxford full-back Peter Kioso.

Koki Saito pinched the ball and darted into the area before cutting it back, where substitute Alfie Lloyd allowed it to run across him for Field to curl home.

“I’m very happy for the players and fans, it’s been a long time waiting for consecutive wins,” said Rangers boss Cifuentes.

“I know it was not the best first half of my life as a coach, and the fans knew as well.

“We spoke in the week of expectations and maybe everyone would think this was a walk in the park, but that does not happen in the Championship.

“We made some adjustments and spoke at half-time, and then capitalised on our moments.

“Three weeks ago everybody would take a victory like this. We need to be very humble and aware of where we are.

“Sam has been showing this quality when he plays high up the pitch. He has a capacity to fill the box. I’m happy for him.”

Defeat left the U’s, who had not played for 11 days after their trip to Plymouth was postponed due to Storm Darragh, still without an away win since they were promoted from League One.

“I think we need to take the chances we create early on,” said boss Des Buckingham.

“In the first half we were really good but our final decisions were not quite good enough. When you don’t quite take them then you give the home team the advantage.

“We knew this year would be a challenge, we got off to a good start and we’ve got a long season to go. We’re not going to beat ourselves up or feel sorry for ourselves.”