MARTI Cifuentes felt his side should have been awarded at least one of two strong penalty shouts in last night’s battling scoreless draw at promotion-chasing Ipswich.
The Hoops put in an impressive display against their high-flying hosts and could have led at the interval had the post not prevented Steve Cook’s glancing header from a corner going in.
A medical emergency in the crowd saw the start of the second period delayed and once the all clear to resume play was given, Cifuentes replaced Chris Willock with Paul Smyth.
It was the substitute who was involved in the first strong claim for a penalty, going to ground inside the box under a challenge from Luke Woolfenden.
And in the final minute of eight added on, it appeared Kayden Jackson clearly handled a cross whipped into the Ipswich box.
Both appeals fell on deaf ears and although keen not to criticise the officials, Cifuentes admitted it can be frustrating at times when the big calls don’t go your way.
QPR’s manager told the club’s YouTube channel: “I’ve said many times we need to focus on the game and try to control the things that we need to control.
“Hopefully we can be better in the future to make sure that we are not dependent on marginal decisions.
“But it is true that in the last games we’ve analysed the goal we conceded against Southampton and it could be a free-kick.
“When we analysed the second goals against Sheffield (Wednesday) it could be an offside and I think that today at least one of the two could be easily a penalty.
“But we will never know what could have happened.
“What is true is that when we are in such a situation my focus is always the performance, my focus is always to improve but as well now we feel that some marginal decisions are not being on our side.”
Cifuentes has made no secret of the fact he isn’t someone who likes to settle for draws, even if tonight’s one can rightly be viewed as a successful point against opponents who could be in the Premier League next season.
The boss did still take plenty of positives from the display at Portman Road, but is demanding even more going into the new year as QPR continue their own battle to beat the drop, starting at home to Cardiff on Monday.
He explained: “I expect hopefully to have a much, much better 2024 than what was in 2023 so far.
“I definitely think I’m not satisfied with a point, but this should be the foundation to collect three points against Cardiff because at the end of the day, in the situation we are, draws will not be enough, so we need to collect victories.
“Hopefully with the approach that when we understand when we are together, and we really perform as a unit, when we really are committed and understanding what is required in the game, we are a good squad.
“That (tonight) is the standard and that is the foundation.
“Hopefully we can deliver a good performance, start the year very well with our supporters and make sure that we collect three points at Loftus Road.”
