Under-fire Hughes praises QPR fans

Mark Hughes shrugged off criticism from QPR fans following the 2-2 draw against Stoke and praised them for getting behind their team.

The Potters boss was given a predictably hostile reception on his return to Loftus Road because of his ill-fated spell as Rangers manager.

But he said: “I expect a little bit of stick. Credit to the Rangers fans, they made their feelings known and then got on with supporting their team, which is what they should do.”

Former Rangers striker Peter Crouch’s goal early in the second half looked like giving Hughes a winning return to W12.

But Niko Kranjcar equalised with a late free-kick to rescue a point for the home side – his first goal since rejoining the R’s on loan.

“In terms of what we produced and chances in open play, I think we were the better team,” said Hughes.

“But we need to manage games and key moments in games. Sometimes you have to navigate your way through.

“We allowed them to get back into the game and really it should have been too far away from them by then.

“We should have had enough about us to see the game out quite comfortably.”

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