QPR boss encouraged after ‘important step’

Mark Hughes felt his team’s result at Norwich was a definite step in the right direction.

Bobby Zamora’s equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Rangers at Carrow Road, where the home side took an early lead through Simoen Jackson.

Rangers’ display encouraged Hughes following the humiliation of the 5-0 thrashing by Swansea on the opening day.

Hughes said: “Obviously we had a bad day last weekend and it was important to get something.

“It was also the first away point we’ve been able to accrue while I’ve been the manager, which is a bonus and something to build on.

“It’s an important step. We’re off the mark in terms of scoring as well, so there’s a couple of landmarks there for us.

“On occasions we just lacked the right ball at the right time. We could have freed Djibril Cisse and didn’t quite give him the service he thrives on.

“We can certainly get the ball down and play a lot more. But in terms of getting a positive result, we’ll take this.”

Hughes insisted the decision to award Rangers the first-half penalty which led to their goal was correct.

Norwich felt aggrieved that a spot-kick was given for an apparent foul on Cisse by Sebastien Bassong and also felt Zamora encroached into the box before scoring from the rebound after Cisse had missed.

“I think there were about seven players in the box, including Norwich players,” Hughes argued.

“There was contact for the penalty and if you make contact there is always the potential there for a penalty. By the letter of the law it was a penalty.”

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