Stoke v QPR preview: Tony Fernandes keeps faith with Mark Hughes

Rangers manager Mark Hughes has come under pressure in recent weeks due to a failure to record any Premier League wins this season.

But chairman Tony Fernandes is adamant Hughes is the right man to take the club forward, despite the poor run that leaves the Rs lying 19th in the table.

Fernandes said: “It’s been one of those frustrating seasons for us but I’m keeping the faith and keeping calm. It’s not a time to panic.

“Mark has done it before, he’s brought teams up from the bottom to the mid-table, we just need a bit of luck and I’m sure things will turn around.”

The pre-game Stoke stats, however, do not make good reading for any QPR follower.

As well as failing to win in the league this term, the Rs are without a victory in their last 18 top-flight away games, while Stoke are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches at the Britannia Stadium.

In addition QPR’s frailties at set-pieces are likely to be examined by Stoke, with Hughes’s side shipping seven of 19 goals conceded from free kicks and corners.

Indeed, in their last two home games against Everton and Reading, QPR have gifted the opposition nine goalscoring opportunities from headers in their penalty area.

As a result, the Rs manager is expecting Stoke to target that weakness tomorrow.

“Stoke’s set-pieces are probably the best in the league,” said Hughes.

“The atmosphere there is outstanding, very vociferous. They get the ball in good areas and make it difficult. We have to match them.

“It’s a difficult fixture.”