SMARTI PANTS
New boss Cifuentes stops the rot at struggling Rangers
ELIJAH DIXON-BONNER says new manager Marti Cifuentes has already made an impact at QPR.
Cifuentes was drafted in last Monday after former boss Gareth Ainsworth paid the price for a dismal start to the campaign.
The Spaniard’s task is to turn around Rangers’ season and move them clear of the Championship drop zone.
Saturday’s stalemate with relegation rivals Rotherham left Cifuentes’ side in the bottom three. But Dixon-Bonner, who was handed his first league start, insists the new man’s ideas are already sinking in.
The midfielder, 22, said: “I really like the new gaffer, we are getting on really well and you can see the boys are liking it.
“You saw a glimpse of the style of play he wants today.
“As footballers, you have to be able to adapt. The style of play actually suits a lot of the players in the team, getting the ball down and wanting to play. And still having the grit and desire to do the hard parts of the game out of possession.
“So we have adapted really well and we were doing well today until we got beaten by a set-piece. So this is the start of something positive, I’m sure.”
Ilias Chair capped a fine display with a superb strike from outside the box to give the visitors a 50th-minute lead.
But Georgie Kelly hit back for the Millers, 20 minutes later, to leave the standings in the bottom three unchanged. After six straight defeats, a point marked a step forward for QPR.
But Dixon-Bonner said: “We are low. Yes, the performance was better, it’s not a loss.
“But we are not aiming to be a team who is happy with a draw, or to be happy with the situation we are in. Nowhere near.
“We’ve got high aspirations for the season. It’s a great performance and we are going to build on it – but the result, we are not happy with.
“Three points is the aim, so we’ll be back on the training pitch, working hard, on Monday.”
Kelly admitted Rotherham were desperate for a reaction after the morale-sapping defeat to bottom-club Sheffield Wednesday. The Millers forward said: “It hit us hard, it’s difficult especially after a poor performance, never mind a poor result.
“It totally took the steam out of us but we had a good week in training and it was just vital we didn’t lose.”
After scoring his first goal of the campaign from the bench, Kelly now hopes to boost his tally. He added: “I feel that when I do come on, I can make an impact. That’s my first of the season and it’s a nice release.
“Hopefully, I can chip in with a few more because we will need them.”