MARTI Cifuentes admits sorting out QPR’s inability to defend set pieces will be the number one priority on the training ground this month.
The Hoops conceded two headers from corners in yesterday’s 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff City, Dimitrios Goutas with the Bluebirds’ first and Perry Ng adding a second after Paul Smyth had restored parity.
Cifuentes’ early positive impact appears to have hit the buffers with QPR now winless in six since beating Hull for a third straight win on 9 December.
The relentless run of games during the festive period means the Spaniard and his coaching team have spent less time than usual working with the players between matches.
But January’s calendar of consecutive Saturday games only at least means Cifuentes can concentrate dealing with the set piece problem which is keeping QPR in the relegation zone.
He told the club’s YouTube channel: “Very much and definitely there will be some adjustments to make sure we improve the current situation – because I am a coach that knows from my experiences in Norway, in Sweden, Denmark and Spain, my teams have always been performing really well on set pieces.
“I was aware about the challenge because unfortunately the team was not doing well before our arrival.
“Now I take all of the responsibility because I am in charge and it has not improved.
“We need to make sure that we spend time enough to adjust things and to improve because it will be extremely important to get the points we need until the end of the season that we are a good team on set pieces.”
QPR claimed a decent point in Friday’s 0-0 draw with Ipswich, but that came at a cost as key men Ilias Chair and Chris Willock both missed out against Cardiff after picking up injuries at Portman Road.
Both now face an anxious wait to see if Saturday’s home FA Cup date with Premier League Bournemouth.
Cifuentes explained: “It was difficult today because we faced a lot of important players that were out of the squad.
“Ilias and Chrissy, both of them they got a feeling during the Ipswich game in their hamstrings, so we decided with the medical (team) they were not ready to play the game.
“It is about the progress they will have in the next (few) days. It seems that it will be perhaps difficult that Ilias will be back against Bournemouth.”
The Hoops boss added: “We will see with Chrissy.
“Jack Colback is on his way back to hopefully train during the week but it is slower than what we expected.
“Stevie Cook got a feeling of his calf during the game against Ipswich, so again we need to evaluate almost day by day and see when he is ready.”
