QPR v Norwich City: Marti Cifuentes Championship preview

Norwich have lost three of their last four matches on their travels but head to the capital in positive spirits having recorded impressive victories against play-off rivals in recent weeks. 

They head into the contest just a point outside the Championship's top six, knowing a win and results elsewhere going their way could push them inside the play-off spots for the first time since September. 

QPR came close to recording a result at Carrow Road in the reverse fixture; they were beaten 1-0 despite being arguably the better team on the day. 

Cifuentes was full of praise for City in his pre-game media, but is hoping his side can exploit their recent form on the road. 

"We saw already when we played against them that they have a good squad," the Spaniard told QPR's channels."It was a game that we dominated for a long time, but unfortunately, we couldn't get the three points.

"They have quality players in their squad, and they are a team that has been used to fighting for the play-offs for a while. They have a history of doing well in the Championship.

"Having said that, we know that they have been struggling in the games away. They are a team that is conceding more goals than they would like when it comes to those games away.

"We need to take this advantage with us. We need to be aggressive, that we start the game on the front foot and attack from the beginning so that they feel that it isn't going to be an easy game for them."

QPR are battling against the drop but have taken seven points from their last three games, including an impressive 2-1 victory over Blackburn last weekend. 

QPR gave Norwich an almighty scare in November - but were beaten 1-0 by the Canaries at Carrow Road. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Cifuentes has overseen an improvement since replacing Gareth Ainsworth as boss in October. He knows victory would serve as a major boost to their fight against the drop. 

"Since my arrival, the fans have been top, top, amazing," the 41-year-old said. "I felt a very strong connection with the fans from the beginning.

"I can only praise them because I imagine for a club like QPR to be in a relegation battle for a long time, it must not be pleasant.

"But I think the fans know that we need them, that we are trying to do our best, that those guys [the players], despite the bad performances, I think we are showing a commitment and that we really want to achieve our target [of staying up]."