QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes praised a quality goal and an impressive performance after his team boosted their Championship survival hopes with a deserved 1-0 victory at Bristol Rovers.
Ilias Chair’s cool finish, passing the ball into the net from Lucas Andersen’s 42nd-minute cross, was enough to lift the visitors to within one point of fourth-from-bottom Millwall.
The visitors defended their lead with organisation and tenacity in the second half, showing the sort of character they will need to escape the drop.
And a delighted Cifuentes said: “I know we have the necessary spirit to move up the table and it was evident today.
“Our goal came from two quality players combining. Ilias Chair is already a top player for us, but I have told him he has the ability to do even greater things.
“Lucas Andersen also has a lot of quality and it was good to see them working together to create the chance.
“But every member of the team deserved credit for a tremendous performance against very good opponents.
“Bristol (City) had beaten Southampton in the week and we knew how tough it would be to come here and win.
“We worked on certain things to combat their strengths and it was important we bounced back quickly from a poor performance against Stoke.
“It sums up the Championship that Bristol (City) were so good in midweek and yet we were able to restrict them to very few chances today.
“What’s so difficult is to put together consistent performances and results. That is what we must be aiming for in our remaining games.
“Today we have been very good, but being like that for one game is not enough.”
City head coach Liam Manning admitted it was a rare off-day for his team, who have been closing in on the play-off positions.
“From the start, we never got going,” he said. “Collectively – and that includes me with the changes I made – we were not good enough.
“It has been a really hectic schedule since Christmas and perhaps that showed physically and mentally today.
“It’s not an excuse because top teams like Manchester City cope with tough programmes. But they have some of the best players in the world.
“We will give our lads tomorrow and Monday off because I think a short rest will do them good.
“Then it will be back to prepare for our next game. We knew we would have to cope with expectation levels today after our win against Southampton.
“Queens Park Rangers are a better side than their league position suggests. I watched them and was aware that we would be in for a very tough game.
“The players are as frustrated as myself because we can be so much better. But they are an honest group and I have nothing but praise for their efforts in recent weeks.”
City lost young striker Sam Bell with a hamstring injury after only 22 minutes and Manning added: “We won’t be sure how serious it is until we get a scan, but obviously it didn’t look good.”
Burnley end Leeds' unbeaten start in battle of promotion hopefuls
Leeds United suffered their first defeat of the Championship season as they were beaten 1-0 at home by fellow promotion hopefuls Burnley.
Daniel Farke’s side came into Saturday's encounter having won back-to-back matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City, but their momentum was halted by their clinical visitors.
Burnley forward Luca Koleosho scored the only goal of the game the day before his 20th birthday.
Koleosho took advantage of a slip from Manor Solomon after 18 minutes, before sprinting 70 yards and drilling a shot past Leeds goalkeeper Ilan Meslier.
That proved to be enough to inflict on Leeds a third home league defeat in six matches going back to last season, despite the hosts applying plenty of pressure as they sought an equaliser.
Burnley's Bashir Humphreys was sent off eight minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match, but Leeds were unable to find a way through.
Elsewhere in Saturday's early Championship kick-offs, Luton Town claimed their first win since relegation from the Premier League.
Teden Mengi's fine early effort from the edge of the penalty area was enough to beat Millwall 1-0 away from home.
While Luton have ground to make up in the promotion race, Oxford United's surprise challenge continues on the back of their 100% home record.
That was maintained with a deserved 1-0 victory over Stoke City, with Idris El Mizouni netting the winner three minutes into the second half.
Wolmer's Boys blank Denham Town 2-0 to maintain positive start in Zone E
Wolmer’s Boys secured their second win in as many games when they topped Denham Town High 2-0 in their Zone E Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Digicel Manning Cup encounter at Bumper Hall on Friday.
Captain Daquan Duhaney and substitute Addon Daye made the points safe for Jerome Waite’s side, which now moves to six points, same as leaders Tivoli Gardens but with a slightly inferior goal difference.
St Mary’s College (one point), Edith Dalton James (one point), St Jago, and Denham Town, who are both without a point, complete the standings.
Though welcoming the win, Waite believes his Heroes Circle boys still have much to learn, particularly where their mental game is concerned. It is an area he is hoping to improve on as the season progresses.
“It’s a work in progress, and it’s also a learning process for them because we have seen a lot of weakness in that area, so that’s something I’ll have to spend time working on. But we’ll analyse the game, sit down and discuss what we could have done better, where we still need to improve, and then we see how best we can get some more work done,” Waite said.
His counterpart Marvin Tate believes his boys are giving their best under the circumstances, as their preparation has been hindered by violence.
“We hardly got any time on the field to train because players live in adjoining communities which are actually at war. We took time out for a week to camp and it’s actually bringing some fruit because we’ve seen an improvement in the team and going forward we’ll see more improvements,” Tate shared.
Friday’s Results
Denham Town 0, Wolmer’s Boys 2
Camperdown 1, Haile Selassie 2
Kingston Technical 2, Vauxhall 3
Dunoon 3, Clan Carthy 2
Meadowbrook 0, Penwood 5
Ardenne 0, Eltham 10
Saturday’s Games
Kingston College vs Cumberland @ Stadium East
Jamaica College vs Ascot @ Jamaica College
STATHS vs Calabar @ Boys’ Town
Excelsior vs Bridgeport @ Excelsior
Holy Trinity vs St Catherine @ Alpha
Papine vs St George’s College @ Papine
*All games are scheduled for 3:30pm
Ten Hag: 'Penalty was the turning point' in Southampton victory
Erik ten Hag believes Andre Onana's penalty save was the "turning point" as Manchester United got back to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man Southampton.
The Red Devils arrived at St Mary's on a two-match losing streak and almost fell behind in the 33rd minute, but Onana guessed correctly to keep out Cameron Archer's tame spot-kick.
The visitors capitalised on their reprieve as goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford put them 2-0 up at half-time, before Alejandro Garnacho wrapped up the points later on.
Ten Hag was pleased with his team's response and also saluted Rashford, who netted his first goal since March.
"The start was not easy," the United boss told BBC Match of the Day.
"I think the penalty was the turning point in the game and, not so far after, we scored and that was very important. From that moment on, the game was all ours."
On Rashford's goal, he added: "It's very important. We spoke before the game. It is huge for him, for every striker.
"When the season starts, you want to be on the scoring list. Now he has his first, I'm sure more will come."
Onana was also pleased to see Rashford back on the scoresheet.
"We had a tough season last year, and he was not at his best," he told TNT Sports. "But today, he showed he's a great player - one of the best in the world.
"That's football, that's life. It's now how you fall, it's about how many times you stand up again. I'm really happy for him. Hopefully, he will score many more for the team.
On bouncing back with a win, he added: "Every game when you lose is like it's the end of the world. You have to stay strong, stay together and keep fighting.
"It was very good to save that penalty. It was an important moment for us.
"The most important thing for us is victory. We had a great game and a clean sheet. Hopefully, we will continue playing like this."
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