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Hughes adamant QPR are close to turning it around

Kaspars Gorkss scored against his old club © PA Photos

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Mark Hughes insists it is just a matter of time before QPR's season turns around despite watching them rack up a tenth Premier League match without victory.

The west London side drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Reading at Loftus Road on Sunday, as Djibril Cisse's second half effort cancelled out Kaspars Gorkss' early opener.

Hughes said: "We're disappointed because we didn't get the three points we wanted but you've got to give credit to the opposition.

"In the first half we knew what they were going to do, we've prepared for it all week and it shouldn't have been a shock to us. But we came back.

"I think the vast majority of fans understand the team was trying really hard not to just sit on a 1-1 draw, and they appreciated that. We're working exceptionally hard on a daily basis to turn this around and we'll get there, we know that.

"The sooner it turns around the better, not so much in terms of staying in this league but we anticipated before the season started that we would have a really successful season.

"The longer this run goes on then that successful season is in danger and we might obviously be involved in the situation we were in last season.

"We need a little break, things didn't go for us today, but in terms of what the players are giving myself and the club I can't fault that.''

Reading were looking to bounce back from the trauma of Tuesday night, when they led Arsenal 4-0 in the Capital One Cup only to lose 7-5 after extra-time.

Although they again proved incapable of holding on to a lead, boss Brian McDermott was content with the point and delighted with the attitude of his players.

He said: "We've had a couple of opportunities and maybe a little bit more quality at the death we might have got the win but this is never an easy place to come to. Chelsea have proved that and Everton, they're both good sides and they got the same draw as us.

"I was proud of our players today. Everyone was talking about the Arsenal game. I analysed that game, I know what happened, and some of our football was excellent to go 4-0 up, and at times we were very good today.

"We all dug in and there's no disappointment in our dressing room today. We've got a point and we move on.''

McDermott reserved special praise for goalkeeper McCarthy, who at 22 is keeping Adam Federici on the bench and building a name for himself.

The Royals boss said of his standout saves: "The first one he just got a touch on and it's a fabulous save, then with Taarabt going through, that was a fabulous save as well.

"He's a very good young goalkeeper, we're blessed to have good goalkeepers at our club and that was a point-winning save at the end. He'll work hard and he'll keep working hard to get as good as he can possibly be.''

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