Rangers end eleven-year cup jinx to hand Hughes first win
QPR 1 vs MK DONS 0
QPR manager Mark Hughes celebrated the the first win of his tenure last night but admitted his team are suffering a crisis of confidence after they stuttered to an uninspiring FA Cup win over League One outfit MK Dons.
Danny Gabbidon’s second half header, his first goal in seven years, provided Rangers with their first win in the competition since 2001 and set up a spicy fourth round tie against west London rivals Chelsea.
That clash will take place just days before England captain John Terry is due in court on a racially aggravated public order offence following allegations, which he denies, that he racially abused Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand when the teams met at Loftus Road last October.
Before then, however, Rangers face a Premier League relegation six-pointer at home against Wigan and Hughes accepts his side cannot afford a repeat of last night’s tepid display.
“Given the run the team has been on, perhaps there is a lack of confidence in each other. The desire is there for everyone to see, but we can improve,” said Hughes, who saw his side win for the first time in 10 games. “I think there was a lack of sharpness as a consequence of playing Sunday and Tuesday — we looked a bit leggy at times.”