QPR boss Marti Cifuentes takes swipe at Portsmouth after 'costly' defeat

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes has taken a swipe at Portsmouth after his side lost at Fratton Park on Saturday. The Hoops conceded either side of half-time with goals from Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie, and Jimmy Dunne’s late goal was not enough to inspire a comeback.

The result sees QPR drop to 14th in the table, as well as making it three defeats in five games, while the win was huge for Pompey, who move up to 17th and put nine points between themselves and the drop zone.

After the game, QPR boss Cifuentes admitted his side put on a ‘disappointing performance’, but he also took a swipe at Portsmouth over their direct style of play. “It was a disappointing performance, I would say,” Martí told www.qpr.co.uk. “A disappointing result.

“We knew we were coming to play against a team that is extremely direct. It's all about long balls, about second balls. We had to match the intensity at the same time that we wanted to impose our style, putting the ball on the ground and trying to create. It was certainly very difficult. It’s a small pitch and we couldn't find the space to break through the pressure. Then the game became, especially during the first half, a lot of up and downs, second balls, not the kind of style that we would like to have. But the team, I think, competed well in the first half.

“Then, unfortunately, a bad start to the second was very costly for us, because I think that we had good periods, some good periods after that, and perhaps we could get something else with the two or three clear chances that we got.

“I think that they (Portsmouth) are a team that is good at creating momentum with their supporters, with the fans at home, and they have fantastic home form in the last 10, 11 games. So we knew that it was very important, that mental side of the game, to make sure that even if it was a mistake, that we're still in the game - that we were very switched on because they can accelerate every throw-in in the last zone, every corner kick to put pressure on the opposition. I think that the style of the second half was definitely not at the standards that we need, especially in a team that has experienced players, and we need to make sure that we get better in the future.”

The Hoops return to action on Saturday when they face promotion contenders Sheffield United in a difficult looking clash at Loftus Road.

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