MARTI Cifuentes hailed Queens Park Rangers’ “milestone” moment as they exited the relegation zone for the first time since last September with their comeback victory over basement side Rotherham United last weekend.
The R’s went behind to Tom Eaves’ goal on seven minutes but Paul Smyth and Chris Willock scored in the second half as QPR took ten points from five games in February.
They moved above Stoke City on goal difference, after the Potters’ 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City.
“I am very happy for all the guys because they have been working really hard,” Cifuentes said.
“We knew that this game would not be easy. It is a milestone for us mentally to get out of the bottom three but we know there is still a lot of games and we have to keep on pushing.
“It is nice to be out of the bottom three right now but we have to keep working.
“The reaction from the players – not just for [Saturday’s game] but in the last weeks – has been fantastic.
“Against Huddersfield we were down in the last minute of the game and we responded [with Kenneth Paal’s equaliser], and we responded well again.
“Mentally they have shown that they really want to achieve and that is why I want to praise them because they are deserving the credit.”
Cifuentes added: “[It] was not easy against a team that we know it is a final for them in every game.
“We didn’t start well and that was the worst game scenario imaginable for us to go behind, but still we responded.
“We were not satisfied about the first half. We knew that Rotherham have been pressing high because they are in the situation that they need to risk a bit, and we couldn’t take advantage of that.
“We were training on it in the week but unfortunately we could not get the situations that we wanted so we made some changes at half-time. I think the players responded very well and all the credit goes to them.
“We deserved the victory, we created enough chances and the second half was very, very good.”
QPR travel to leaders Leicester on Saturday.
Cifuentes said: “I have always been very confident we can stay up but at the same time we must be very humble and not get carried away by one victory.
“We still have a job to do and there are a lot of games to be played and we need to keep improving because it is going to be tough until the end of the season.”
