Mark Hughes hopes QPR loss at Chelsea does not prove 'critical'

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes hopes Sunday's 6-1 thrashing at Chelsea will not do "critical damage" to his side's chances of Premier League survival.

Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick as the Hoops were hammered, leaving them one place above the relegation zone on goal difference.

"We've damaged our own goal difference today," said Hughes.

"At half-time [4-0] we talked about that. Maybe the damage isn't critical."

Rangers are five goals better off than third-bottom Bolton Wanderers, who have a game in hand. The west London side face a crucial match against Stoke City at Loftus Road on 6 May, before rounding their season off with a trip to title-chasing Manchester City seven days later.

They are a different proposition at home, having beaten Tottenham, Swansea, Arsenal and Liverpool in their last four Premier League matches on their own turf.

"We have known the Stoke game was going to be important and huge for us for a number of weeks," said Hughes.

"We have to pick ourselves up and the fans up. We have to get the job done and make sure we are fundamentally better, but if we replicate what we have done in recent home games we will be fine.

"But we have to be markedly improved on our performance today."

Hughes was pleased to see Djibril Cisse back in the team for the first time since he was sent off against former club Sunderland last month.

"It was good for Djibril to get 90 minutes under his belt and for him to get a goal," added Hughes. "He will feel better for it next week."