Worried Hughes unhappy with striking options after Southampton loss

By Nick Wright Monday, November 19, 2012
9:28 AM

Under-fire QPR manager Mark Hughes admitted his side are “lacking cutting edge” in attack after their dire 3-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Winless Rangers stay bottom of the Premier League after the loss, increasing the pressure on Hughes, who is anxiously waiting for further backing from owner Tony Fernandes after ruling out resignation.

The former Manchester City boss was heckled and booed by the home fans on Saturday as strikes from Rickie Lambert, Jason Puncheon and an own goal from Anton Ferdinand put the game out of his side’s reach.

QPR have managed a meagre nine goals in 12 Premier League games this season and Djibril Cisse, their lone striker against the Saints, has scored just once, while Jamie Mackie is yet to find the net.

And with Bobby Zamora troubled by a hip problem and Andy Johnson likely to miss the whole of the season with a serious knee injury, Hughes thinks his side are suffering badly from a lack of options.

“We’ve lost a little bit of a cutting edge,” he said.

“Bobby [Zamora] wasn’t available and Andy Johnson is obviously not available.

“We talked all week about being aggressive in both boxes.

“You have to get your head in there and you have to make determined runs and we lacked a little bit of that today.”

Hughes will be desperately hoping Zamora, QPR’s top scorer this season with four goals, will be fit to make the daunting trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next weekend.