Mark Hughes tells QPR they need to get off the away-day rollercoaster

West Bromwich Albion 1 Queen's Park Rangers 0

Graham Dorrans scores Albion’s winner against QPR (Getty Images)

The Queen's Park Rangers manager, Mark Hughes, accepts his team must improve their away form and show more consistency if they are to guarantee their Premier League survival. Hughes was frustrated by this defeat, which left them hovering just above the drop zone.

It was in sharp contrast to the3-0 midweek home win over Swansea and meant they have gone 11 away games without a win and collected just two points in that dismal run.

Hughes said: "It's a little bit of a rollercoaster for us. We need to be more consistent. Against Swansea we were magnificent, really worked hard and made it happen. Against West Brom, we found that difficult and the performance level was nowhere near the last game. The frustration is not being able to produce the same sort of show."

QPR have a difficult run-in with home games against Tottenham and Stoke and away trips to Chelsea and Manchester City.

Hughes said: "Everyone has said it will be really difficult for us to pick up points in the run-in. We've been able to do it at home but we need to hit the same sort of level away. We can't just hang our hat on winning home games."

Albion's Roy Hodgson was relieved after ensuring a third successive season of top-flight football.

He said: "I'm delighted to be on 42 points and that the last four games are totally meaningless as far as we are concerned, although they won't be because we want to finish above Aston Villa for the first time in 33 years. That would be nice."

Baggies midfielder Graham Dorrans put an injury-hit year behind him with a stunning 30-yard first-half strike to settle the issue.

He said: "I've had a few niggling injuries the last year but hopefully I am over those now and can get myself stronger and stay in the side."

Match details

WBA: FOSTER 7/10, JONES 7, McAULEY 6, MULUMBU 6, DAWSON 6, RIDGEWELL 6, BRUNT 6, DORRANS 7, THOMAS 6, ODEMWINGIE 6, FORTUNE 7

QPR: KENNY 6, TAIWO 6, HILL 7, FERDINAND 6, ONUOHA 6, TAARABT 6, DIAKITE 6, DERRY 6, BARTON 6, MACKIE 6, ZAMORA 6

Scorers: WBA Dorrans 22. Subs: WBA Long (Fortune, 59), Andrews (Dorrans, 71), Scharner (Thomas, 80). QPR Wright-Phillips (Derry, 56), Helguson (Taarabt, 75), Traore (Taiwo, 77). Booked: WBA Ridgewell, Dorrans, Mulumbu. QPR Diakite. Man of the match Dorrans. Match rating 6/10. Possession: WBA 55% QPR 45%.

Attempts on target: WBA 10 QPR 6.

Referee J Moss (W Yorkshire). Attendance 25,521.