QPR boss Marti Cifuentes saluted his injury-hit team’s character after the 3-1 win at Oxford ended a dismal run of six successive away defeats.
Ronnie Edwards’ header, an Ole Romeny own goal and Yan Min-heok’s stoppage-time third sealed a victory which takes the west London team on to 49 points, which should be enough for Sky Bet Championship safety.
The visitors also had to deal with a head injury to captain Sam Field, who felt dizzy and as a precaution was taken to hospital for checks.
Cifuentes said: “It was top character. Everybody contributed. We have been criticised – and sure, everyone is entitled to their opinion – but what those guys have been through this season, it’s a roller-coaster in terms of emotional demands.
“And to come here and give this sort of performance, especially in the first half, after what have been a very difficult last four or five games, I think it’s brilliant.
“Yan…not only because of the goal, but he gave us a lot of energy and he showed his experience and his quality at the end.”
Because of QPR’s spate of injuries, Cifuentes gave a debut up front to 18-year-old Australian Daniel Bennie, who normally plays on the wing.
Cifuentes explained: “We were obviously struggling with options and we had to find solutions.
“We thought Oxford could be very direct and they are strong on set-pieces and Bennie has this running capacity and is quite physical too – it was about finding the right balance between defending and attacking them.
“And credit to all the players, I think it worked well.
“It got very tricky and nervy for us in the second half when Oxford scored and that is the way it is for us at the moment at this stage of the season.
“But we were really good in the first half, we almost didn’t concede a chance in that first half, and we coped well with their set-pieces – they have been very strong with their throw-ins.
“We spoke at half-time that it was very important for us to start strong in the second half, we tried to push and we had a chance to make it 3-0, and then Sam started to feel dizzy and with 10 men they scored – and then the momentum shifted.
“That was why it was so important that we scored the third goal when we did.”
Oxford head coach Gary Rowett said: “With the performance that we put in last Saturday against Sheffield United, what you can’t then do is put in an abject performance for 30 minutes as we did.
“Not trying to take anything away from QPR but the first two goals we just gave away.
“Maybe they played with the same desperation tonight that we played with last Saturday. But the game meant just as much to both teams and that was the disappointment to me, we didn’t show enough energy first half, we didn’t go and press with any intensity.
“I thought we just looked leggy and the two goals we gave away in the first half just shouldn’t have happened.
“We played like we just didn’t have that same spark as last weekend. Sometimes the energy that you put into a Saturday game against the league leaders can take it out of you. But if you’re a good team, you have to go again.
“I’m not questioning the players’ desire. I’m just saying it looked like a performance where we didn’t turn up with the same aggression and the same spirit that we showed last Saturday. And sometimes that gives the opposition a chance.
“But I’ve seen many, many performances like that over the years where you don’t play well for 30 minutes and it’s still 0-0, and when you do change things you have an opportunity to swing the momentum of the game.
“But we came in at half-time 2-0 to two soft goals where they haven’t had to work hard to score. So it’s hugely disappointing.”
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