"It feels hard" - Marti Cifuentes fumes at QPR exploits v Coventry City | OneFootball

Marti Cifuentes was left disappointed by a late lapse in concentration in QPR's game against Coventry.

Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes was left disappointed as a late lapse in concentration from his side saw Bobby Thomas net a late-winning goal for Coventry City.

In truth, it was a very even game that could have seen far more goals with Brandon Thomas-Asante, Michael Frey and Ellis Simms all missing guilt-edged opportunities for their side.

However, it was Bobby Thomas who secured the late winner, rising at the back post to meet a corner that evaded R's keeper Paul Nardi, powering his header into the net.

This result leaves the Hoops four points adrift of the play-offs, while Tuesday's opponents, Coventry, close in on Blackburn Rovers in sixth place.

Marti Cifuentes disappointed with late lapse

Cifuentes came out to speak to the press after the game and was clearly left frustrated by what he witnessed in the dying minutes of the game.

"It’s a big disappointment,” he said.

"It feels hard. It was a game with small margins and to lose this way hurts a lot.

"I’m just disappointed about the way we conceded the late corner. I felt we were getting closer to scoring and instead we concede a counter when we should defend better – unfortunately a corner against a team that is very strong on set-plays."

Despite this, the head coach is moving swiftly past Tuesday's defeat and has his eyes firmly set on securing three points against a struggling Derby County side on Friday night.

He said: "We need to move on now and try to win on Friday.

"The feeling of disappointment and anger we have in the dressing room should be the fuel for us to face Derby."

The Spaniard added: "When we look at where we were last season, I still feel like this team is taking steps. The mindset must always be to improve."

QPR and Cifuentes can still hold hope of a play-off push

While three defeats in the last four have been a hindrance to their play-off push, the R's can still hold hope of breaking into that top-six with no team particularly staking their claim.

Back-to-back fixtures against the Rams and Portsmouth present a golden opportunity to secure six points, followed by crucial clashes against their play-off rivals. The classic football cliché of a "six-pointer" will no doubt be heard, but in this case, it couldn’t be more accurate.

Goals will be needed and the likes of Ilias Chair and Michael Frey are going to have to stand up if they have any desire of forcing their way into the picture.