The Hoops looked on the way to three points against Wolves on Saturday when debutant Bobby Zamora deservedly gave them a first-half lead.
However, Djibril Cisse's sending-off changed the course of the game and the midlands club went on to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle.
While frustrated with the result, Hughes was keen to focus on the positives and believes the attacking performance bodes well.
"Obviously you need a level playing field in terms of numbers and that wasn't the case so we were up against it when the sending off happened," he said.
"With the games we have coming up, I think we can more than match those teams and with a little bit of quality we have added that could be the difference in winning those games.
"Perhaps in the past we would not had enough to take it over the line but we have now. I am confident of that.
"I thought Adel Taarabt was excellent. I have admired him from afar but I hadn't actually seen him on that many occasions close to.
"We only had one session yesterday with him since he has come back [from the African Nations Cup] and I thought he was outstanding in the match. That all bodes well for the future.
"I think his ability with the strengths of Bobby Zamora and Djibril when he comes back, along with the other guys in the building means we have the tools to score goals in the Premier League.
"Maybe that is something previously we lacked and obviously that wasn't to be today, although I was still encouraged with what I saw."
Taarabt was the Hoops' outstanding player at Loftus Road, playing with flair rarely seen since his side's promotion from the npower Championship.
The Morocco international has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons this campaign but Hughes does not expect a problem with the talented midfielder.
"Well, it is a case of getting to know him and Adel getting to me," said Welshman, who replaced Neil Warnock at the helm last month.
"He will understand what I expect from him and there will be no problems whatsoever, I imagine.
"Against Wolves I thought he was excellent. Not only in terms of the ability he was able to show but his work rate and discipline, which sometimes in the past has been questioned.
"You couldn't question that today and he has ability and application . From my point of view, that's all I need from a player."
Meanwhile, Wolves counterpart Mick McCarthy was delighted with the victory after a nine-game winless streak.
The three points propelled his team out of the relegation zone and came courtesy of an inspired performance from Republic of Ireland international Doyle, who came off the bench to set up one goal and score the other.
"I can't remember who it was but I heard one of the top tennis players saying they are able to turn it on when they want to," McCarthy said. "They know that the class is always there.
"It's not always that easy but the ability to play is always there and sometimes they are just below par. And I think that's what Doyle has been.
"He was fabulous again [yesterday] - he looked strong and powerful and skilful and got his goal and I'm delighted for him because he's been having it tough.
"It was lovely to see him play well. We gave him a license to roam and he looked like the top player that he is."
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