Cifuentes reveals optimism for league campaign after draw

The hosts found themselves behind early when Haji Wright gave the Sky Blues the lead in the fourth minute, but were able to salvage a point when substitute Kieran Morgan netted his first professional goal in the 63rd minute.

Cifuentes revealed there were plenty of positives to take from his side's performance.

He said to club media: “The start was a nightmare. From our corner kick it becomes a counter for them. We had several possibilities to clear the ball properly but we don’t, so we concede a deserved goal.

“And then Ken (Paal) gets injured, so it was a terrible start to the game.”

“It was not a perfect performance, far from it,” Cifuentes added, “but at the same time I felt the team really understood what is needed to get out of the situation where we are and our fans as well understood that, and they were definitely encouraging.

“Since I arrived this team has never been giving up and always trying to compete, some games we achieved what we wanted.

“The team did almost everything we could to win the game.”

Cifuentes also highlighted the impact of 18-year-old Morgan, lavishing praise on the former Tottenham youth player for his performance.

He added: “I told him to enjoy it, to keep doing what he is doing in training and what he did on Saturday [against Portsmouth].

“He is brave, he has a big personality, and I am very happy for him. Now it is about helping him to keep building because he is a player with a fantastic future for us.”

QPR next face a trip to Turf Moor to take on third-placed Burnley this weekend.

20 places separate the two sides in the league standings and Cifuentes outlined his ambition to see his team rise to the occasion.

He said: “We got a point, it is not a big thing but for me the most important is to see the team is taking steps.

“We are going to take it game by game, we are aware that we are going to play against a very good team on Saturday.

“We must prepare our best and be ready for the challenge.”