QPR’s Ryan Nelsen: We’re letting Mark Hughes down

QPR defender Ryan Nelsen says the Hoops are letting down their manager Mark Hughes after a winless start to the campaign

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By TSR staff Tuesday 9 October 2012, 16:31 UK

Mark Hughes signed Ryan Nelsen on a free transfer this summerPhoto: The Sport Review

ryan nelsen

Ryan Nelsen admits the Queens Park Rangers players are letting down manager Mark Hughes, with the Hoops still searching for their first Premier League win.

Hughes’ side were beaten 3-2 by West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday, leaving the west Londoners with just two points from their opening seven league games.

There were 11 new arrivals at Loftus Road during a busy summer of transfer activity, but Nelsen insisted there is no excuse for their poor start to the campaign.

“We have to live up to expectations. It’s our livelihoods, we have to win games,” said Nelsen. “It takes time to gel and injuries to players in key positions haven’t helped.

“The only real bright spot for us is that at least this run is happening now. There’s a long way to go yet.

“But we know each and every one of us have got to be a lot better. We’re letting the manager down here.

“We just have to win matches. I think every player has let the manager down at some stage this season.”

The New Zealand international, who was released by Tottenham Hotspur this summer, criticised QPR’s concentration at the start of recent games after falling behind in the opening 20 minutes against West Ham and West Brom.

“It doesn’t matter how good our second half was. We conceded two very soft goals at the start.

“You just can’t concede those sort of goals at this level. You get punished and it leaves us with a mountain to climb after that.

“It took us until the second half to play to our potential. You just can’t do that in this league. We’re leaving ourselves too much to do.

“It gives us a mountain to climb. Teams aren’t really earning their goals against us to tell the truth.

“We have to start from 20 yards behind all the time. We have to remedy that and as soon as we do it’ll be a lot easier to get ourselves up to win games.”