QPR manager Marti Cifuentes insists Boxing Day’s 2-0 derby defeat at Millwall will count for nothing when the London duo meet again tomorrow at Loftus Road.
It is less than a month since Tom Bradshaw and Murray Wallace were good enough to overcome Cifuentes’ side, who have a quick opportunity to gain revenge on their own patch.
The Hoops have picked up only one point from nine since that day, form which keeps them firmly in the relegation zone and five points from safety.
Millwall have managed to lift themselves well clear of the drop zone in the past month and could potentially hand Tottenham loan signing Japhet Tanganga his debut tomorrow afternoon.
But the QPR boss doesn’t read anything into what happened at The Den last time, even if the Lions might feel they have a psychological advantage after that result.
Cifuentes told QPR TV: “We cannot expect the same football game.
“I think Millwall signed a new centre half yesterday, but more or less it is going to be a similar picture.
“We know that every football game is different, as in all of life, so in that sense what I am expecting is to start from zero, to make sure that we start front foot in the game, that we have an aggressive start and that we take the game from the beginning because we need all three points.
“It is about showing this attitude, this relentless energy, this personality that we need to show.”
He added: “I’m thinking of the big picture because we are in the moment now where we cannot think about how many games are left.
“It’s a lot of points left but starting to make now some table predictions doesn’t make sense.
“What is important now for me is the next game is the most important.
“I’m preparing the team for that and I’m sure that all the guys know.”
QPR’s poor home record has been well-documented over the past 12 months despite an initial improvement following Cifuentes’ appointment.
They have lost their last three Championship encounters in front of their own fans, but the Spaniard wants them to play their part tomorrow in what is usually a guaranteed feisty encounter.
“Massive because it has been too long since we celebrated our last win together,” he replied when asked how important the atmosphere will be.
“I think that all the guys are very aware at this moment that these are the kind of games in a London derby that we have a little bit of these feeling that we were not performing at a good level when we played against Millwall away.
“It is the small things that give us the energy that we need to play a very good game tomorrow and again to give something to our supporters that they really deserve.”
And there was a positive pre-match update on the injury front for the hosts.
“Everybody is available apart from Rayan Kolli,” revealed the Hoops chief.
“It is very good news that we can work with all the squad.
“At this moment in the season that shows the medical department and physio department are doing a very good job with the players.”
