Fernandes gives backing to Hughes

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes says Mark Hughes is "the right man" despite the Hoops sitting bottom of the table.

Last Updated: 07/10/12 at 13:08 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Next Premier League Manager To Leave Next Manager to Go: Mark Hughes 1/3

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Mark Hughes: Has chairman's backing

Mark Hughes: Has chairman's backing

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has given his backing to manager Mark Hughes, insisting he remains "the right man" for the job despite the club sitting bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

Rangers have collected only two points from their opening seven games and again paid the price for some woeful defending during Saturday's 3-2 defeat at West Brom.

Yet Fernandes remains fully committed to supporting Hughes, who is convinced QPR's fortunes will improve once his heavily-overhauled squad has had time to bed in.

Fernandes tweeted on Sunday: "For all QPR fans. Fans who analyse properly. I am not changing anything. And all shareholders agree.

"No team except the first game [a 5-0 home defeat to Swansea] has outplayed us. We need a consistent four defenders not changing every week especially right and left-back. Mark is the right man."

He added: "For all those calling for change, this is the team that outplayed Spurs and gave Chelsea a damm good game and you want change. No way."

Hughes offloaded 17 players during the close season while bringing in a dozen new faces, and has also been dogged by injuries, particularly in defence.

"I'm still learning about the group, still learning about the players I have," said Hughes.

"We had a big turnover in the summer and we all knew it was going to take time. Tony is a very supportive chairman and I've got great support from the shareholders.

"We've talked and discussed what could happen at the beginning of this year because we all understand it may take some time.

"But we are all fully committed to what we are trying to do.

"It is disappointing because we have showed glimpses of what we can do but we haven't been able to sustain it for 90 minutes.

"That will come. We've just got to keep working hard and cut out the mistakes."

Hughes added: "We are struggling to get a settled unit. We are having too many changes and a number of players are still carrying injuries and are not 100 per cent.

"It would be great to have a full complement of players who could complete 90 minutes.

"At the moment it seems that we can't get to that stage."

QPR were torn apart at the back during the opening 45 minutes on Saturday as Albion scored twice and missed two gilt-edged chances.

Hughes admitted: "In terms of a defensive performance, it wasn't at the level it needed to be and it gives us to much to do.

"When you are going away in the Premier League, you've got to have that base and that platform that enables you to build a performance and get a result.

"I'm talking about midfield and up front as well as the back four. We've got to collectively be a lot better and stop things at source.

"We can't keep frustrating ourselves and not giving ourselves an opportunity to win games.

"If you don't, then you concede goals in the Premier League. We can't keep frustrating ourselves and not giving ourselves an opportunity to win games."

The major plus point for Hughes was the form of playmaker Adel Taarabt, who scored once and was the creative focal point of Rangers' performance.

He fully justified being recalled to the starting line-up for the first time since the opening day of the season and Hughes said: "I thought Adel was excellent. He deserved a starting place, scored a fantastic goal and his overall performance and determination to make things happen for us was creditable.

"I'm pleased for him because he is an important player for us and it's important he starts to show form.

"Ryan Nelsen was also outstanding at the back in terms of his commitment and determination to affect the game.

"But we need the vast majority of the team doing that."

James Morrison and Zoltan Gera put Albion in control before Taarabt reduced the arrears. Youssouf Mulumbu made it 3-1 before Esteban Granero netted Rangers' second.

Bet with SkyBet  Next Premier League Manager To Leave Next Manager to Go: Mark Hughes 1/3

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