Trip to depleted Newcastle could give Mark Hughes his first QPR win

Mark Hughes replaced Neil Warnock at QPR this week in one of the swiftest managerial turnarounds in recent Premier League history.

Warnock, who guided the Rs to promotion in the summer, could be forgiven for feeling a little hard-done to, but his sacking and the subsequent appointment of Welshman Hughes, show that owner Tony Fernandes wants results, and fast.

Ladbrokes are offering an array of specials markets surrounding Hughes, and with punters being afforded the chance to bet on which game will see him achieve his first win in charge of the Londoners, this could be the be best way to make a profit.

Hughes’s first match at Loftus Road comes against fellow relegation candidates Wigan, and this is 5/4 favourite to be the source of the first three points achieved by the Welshman.

Prior to this however, the Hoops visit Newcastle, and at a big 4/1 for Hughes to claim his first win at Sports Direct Arena, this could prove a value bet against a depleted Newcastle side missing top scorer Demba Ba.

If you don’t fancy ‘Sparky’ to light up QPR instantly, it is 7/1 that his initial success comes away to Aston Villa after the Wigan clash, and 7/2 it takes until his second home game in charge against Wolves.

12/1 is available on Hughes recording his first victory as manager on his return to Ewood Park on February 11, while it is 10/1 that he fails to win until the Loftus Road clash with another former side Fulham in late February.

Hughes will be desperate to strengthen his squad immediately, and Malaysian billionaire chairman Fernandes is likely to encourage this, making the 5/6 for Hughes to make four or more signings in January look good.

It is 8/1 Hughes completes a major turnaround in the longer term by leading QPR into Europe next season, while 12/1 is the price attributed to Hughes exacting revenge on his former employers by winning away to Manchester City on the final day of this campaign.