MARTI Cifuentes was pleased with a “good test” for his Queens Park Rangers side despite their 1-0 defeat away to Reading at the weekend.
Femi Azeez scored the Royals’ goal early in the second half.
It was QPR’s second consecutive defeat after they went down 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Loftus Road.
“This was a very good test for us and we can learn a lot from this game,” Cifuentes said on QPR’s website.
“It was good preparation for what can happen in the Championship.
“I said to the guys we got clear chances and we only conceded one shot on our goal, which was from one of our mistakes.
“That’s how the game works. It is not about being nicer or better, it is about showing it in the score and today we didn’t show the difference in the quality.
“We can take a lot of positives in the sense that we played against a very specific way of playing because Reading were so aggressive.
“They weren’t perhaps very interested in having a lot of possession but about counter-pressing, about trying to be very high in the pitch, and there were lots of breaks and lots of free-kicks.
“I could see the frustration of our players, especially in the last 20 minutes, and we have to be better than that.
“It was a good test and to learn that mistakes count a lot – today we made one, and that is why we lost the game because we had enough chances to win.”
“I am critical with ourselves, about how much we need to improve to kill the game.
“We had chances in the first half with Alfie Lloyd and the crossbar with [Paul] Smythy, the header from Michael Frey. We need to score those and then it is a game-changer, of course.”
New striker Zan Celar came on for the final 30 minutes and set up Smyth for a chance.
Cifuentes said: “Zan has shown in his career that he can not only score, but also assist, be good at the pressing, holding the ball, a link player.
“In that sense, we have big expectations about what he can give to us while also at the same time understanding he has only been here a few days and we must help him adapt to the game.”
Rangers play Brighton next Saturday before kicking off the Championship campaign the following weekend at home to West Bromwich Albion.
“This is an important week for us because it is the final week before our preparation begins for West Brom,” Cifuentes said.
“Obviously we want to improve, we will keep on pushing and keep on trying to make sure the new players adapt as soon as possible, and we will look to improve in all areas.
“That is what we want for the Brighton game, and hopefully give our fans a good game before the start against West Brom.”
