Premier League: Is Sparky to blame for QPRs troubles?

Mark Hughes needs time to turn results around at Loftus Road
As QPR go down 2-1 at home to West Ham, Christian Crowther assesses the situation at Loftus Road...
At the end of last season, Mark Hughes publicly vowed that he would never put QPR fans through that sort of final-day relegation dangling torment ever again.
This may well prove to be true, but only because he may not be around long enough at Loftus Road to put this statement into practise.
If the Welshman doesn't oversee a swift turnaround in results, he may not even get the chance to lead his team out past the clocks going back, let alone on the last day of the season.
QPR's most recent defeat condemned Rangers to their worst Premier League start, winless after gathering just two points from a possible 18, leaving them propping up the table.
One thing in Sparky's favour, for now, appears to be the backing of club chairman Tony Fernandes, who has heavily bankrolled the club this summer, allowing Hughes to bring in no fewer than 12 new faces.
After the West Ham defeat, Fernandes said on his twitter account: "Keep calm. Six games does not make a season. I have learnt from many wise chairmen."
Whether this turns out to be more akin to the dreaded vote of confidence than a genuine message of support remains to be seen.
So how much of this is Hughes' fault exactly? One thing the former Blackburn, Man City and Fulham boss would point to is his defensive injury list.
This is certainly a factor. When you have Anton Ferdinand, Jose Bosingwa, Armand Traore and Fabio all out injured and have to rely on - no disrespect - the likes of veterans Clint Hill and Ryan Nelsen, this is bound to have an effect.
You'd strongly assume this was no the defensive unit which Hughes had in mind, however out of all his signings there is not one which has truly flourished so far this season, besides a good start for Bobby Zamora, who has had an extra six months to settle.
Junior Hoilett is certainly a gifted player but for some reason was left on the bench and fellow sub Samba Diakite has a worrying penchant for a lunging tackle, which cost his team dear last night.
Stephane Mbia and Esteban Grenero have certainly not offered the kind of quality and back four protection their signings promised, though Mbia wasn't in his primary position against West Ham.
Until Hughes is able to get out his best defence out and give his other signings a chance to gel, I think it would be a genuine mistake to get rid of the Welshman now.
Sparky should be allowed at least until Christmas to turn things around and hopefully Fernandes will stick by his words.
Even though QPR are still winless at 4.77/2, they are still a tempting price to lay against relegation given the amount and quality of players they have to come back.
If Hughes was to get given the heave-ho though, maybe a certain Harry Redknapp could be tempted into another Houdini act in the capital? Two more losses will even set up his favoured two points from eight games scenario...