QPR must ignore Gareth Ainsworth comparison where Marti Cifuentes is concerned: View | OneFootball

Marti Cifuentes must not be compared to Gareth Ainsworth despite QPR's points output.

With seven points from their opening seven games, Queens Park Rangers currently have the same number of points under Marti Cifuentes than they did under Gareth Ainsworth at the same stage last season.

The Hoops have had a mixed start to their Championship campaign and currently sit 17th in the table, with one win, four draws and two losses.

Although the number of points on the board suggests that QPR are no better under Cifuentes than they were under Ainsworth, fans should not be concerned by the misleading statistics.

QPR would certainly have been aiming to have more points on the board by this stage of the season, but patience is the key to their development this campaign.

When Cifuentes was appointed as QPR boss in late October last season, the club were in disarray. After six straight Championship losses, the club were sitting perilously in 23rd position, but time was on their side.

The West London club were very much in the relegation mix come the end of the season, but the Spaniard guided the club to three straight wins in their final three games of the campaign to leave them safe in 18th position.

This season is all about building on the previous campaign and although the club only have seven points from a possible 21, there have been encouraging signs for the Hoops.

Both of the club's losses have come against two of the highest performers in the league, in West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers. Furthermore, the team showed great character in coming from two goals down to tie 2-2 with promotion hopefuls, Sheffield United.

With their only win coming against Luton Town, Cifuentes would have been hoping for better, but the performances have been there for QPR, and as they embark on a run of games against Hull City, Derby County and Portsmouth, the situation should look rosier in two weeks' time.

Cifuentes has shown he is a quality manager during his reign at Loftus Road and fans must remain patient as they hope for an improvement in results.

Marti Cifuentes is a significant improvement on Gareth Ainsworth

If the QPR hierarchy had not acted when they did in sacking Ainsworth, then the club could have been playing League One football this season.

Although Ainsworth had more wins under his belt at this stage than Cifuentes, the team capitulated and were unable to win another game under the rock-n-roll gaffer.

The writing had been on the walls ever since the former QPR player took over the club as he had only managed three wins in 13 matches towards the end of the previous campaign.

The QPR job was always going to be a true test of Ainsworth's managerial credentials, given it was only his second managerial job. Although he had been a success at Wycombe Wanderers, the expectations of a club like QPR were significantly greater.

Ainsworth and QPR were not a good fit, but since Cifuentes has been in charge, the club feel like they are moving in the right direction, and in another seven games' time, expect QPR to be higher up the league table.

During Ainsworth's 28-game reign, he managed a points-per-match ratio of 0.68, with 20 goals scored and 52 goals conceded. In Cifuentes' current 43-game stint, he has a points-per-match ratio of 1.42, with 55 goals scored and 51 goals conceded.

Not only has the Spaniard significantly improved the club's output in front of goal, but he has also stemmed the flow of goals conceded, with one less goal conceded in 15 more matches.

Although QPR are no better off at this stage of the season than they were under Ainsworth last campaign in terms of points, patience is key as the club are more stable.

In Cifuentes, the Hoops possess a quality manager, and he has proved since his appointment that he is the right man to develop the club.