Marti Cifuentes told to make QPR change v Derby County involving Newcastle United loanee | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has given his view on the changes head coach Marti Cifuentes should make for Saturday's trip to Derby County.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Queens Park Rangers take on Derby County in the Championship at Pride Park on Saturday.

QPR secured survival last season following a remarkable turnaround under Marti Cifuentes, and given that they were one of the form teams in the division during the second half of the campaign, some tipped them to be potential play-off contenders this time around.

However, it has been a tough start to the season for the R's, and they suffered their second consecutive defeat as they were beaten 3-1 by Hull City at Loftus Road on Tuesday night.

The Hoops started brightly, with Sam Field, Lucas Andersen, Nicolas Madsen and Koki Saito all being denied by Ivon Pandur, but the Tigers took the lead against the run of play in the 25th minute through Cody Drameh, and Chris Bedia doubled the visitors' advantage 11 minutes later.

Madsen's penalty, which was awarded after Lewie Coyle was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, pulled one back for the R's just before half time, but Liam Millar's 71st-minute strike sealed all three points for Hull.

It was certainly not the way that Cifuentes would have wanted to celebrate the news of the new contract he signed on Monday, and after Wednesday night's results, his side are now in the relegation zone.

QPR fan pundit on potential Derby County changes

When asked what changes he would like Cifuentes to make for the game against Derby, FLW's QPR fan pundit Louis Moir said he is keen to see Harrison Ashby replace Hevertton Santos at right-back.

Jimmy Dunne has established himself as the R's first choice right-back in recent months, but he has been needed at centre-half over the past few weeks during Jake Clarke-Salter's absence.

Santos has been chosen to start at right-back in three of the last four games, but after another uncertain performance against Hull in midweek, Louis believes Cifuentes should give Newcastle United loanee Ashby an opportunity.

"I think one change I would make from the Hull game would have to be at right-back because Santos struggled big time and hasn't looked great really since joining the club," Louis said.

"Jimmy Dunne has made that right-back position his own, but he may need to play centre-half if Jake Clarke-Salter is still out, so that means Harrison Ashby might have to come in.

"To be fair, he played against Crystal Palace in the cup and looked okay, he looked like he had something about him.

"At the end of the day, we've loaned him in from Newcastle and they're going to want him to get minutes, so this could be the time where potentially he could cement himself at right-back, if not for a few games at least.

"I'd like to see that change, I think he looks more of a natural-right back compared to Santos, he's actually got a bit of pace about him.

"He gets stuck in, he looks like he could probably offer more defensively as well, and I think we need that at the moment.

"It is the perfect game for Ashby to come into as well, and if he impresses, he could stay there in the long-term for the rest of this season.

"We need to see him play now in the league, and this is his chance, so I'd be putting in Ashby for Santos at right-back for Derby away."

Derby County clash is a big game for QPR

It is fair to say that it has not been the start to the season that QPR supporters were expecting, and while there is no reason for panic at this stage, the R's could do with a positive result against Derby.

The Rams have been strong at Pride Park this season and will not be an easy opponent, but they have lost their last three league games, so it is a good opportunity for the Hoops to return to winning ways.

Some may question why the club have given Cifuentes a new contract amid a poor run of form, but it does at least provide certainty over the managerial situation and ensures that pressure will not build on the Spaniard if results do not improve immediately.

However, the R's will be desperate to avoid another relegation battle this season, and although it is still early in the campaign, they will be keen to escape the bottom three as soon as possible.