Queens Park Rangers moved out of the relegation zone on Saturday, as a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic gave Mark Hughes his first Premier League win in charge of his new club.
Heidar Heguson’s penalty and a free-kick from Akos Buzsaky saw the hosts lead 2-0 at half-time at Loftus Road. Hugo Rodallega pulled one back and Wigan remained in it after Helguson saw a second penalty saved, but Tommy Smith rounded off a most welcome win for Rangers.
Rock bottom Wigan should have scored right at the start, but defender Steve Gohouri side-footed Jordi Gomez's cross a yard wide of Paddy Kenny’s goal. No Latics player was then able to get a touch to Victor Moses’ cross after he cut in on the left.
For QPR, a miss-hit Luke Young cross forced Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to tip the ball over his own bar. That got his side going and DJ Campbell almost capitalised on a Gohouri mistake, but fired wide.
Omani goalkeeper Al Habsi then denied Jamie Mackie with a sound save, but he was beaten from the spot after James McCarthy used the palm of his hand to try and clear a corner from the returning Joey Barton. Helguson slotted home the penalty, even though Al Habsi guessed the right way.
The visiting goalkeeper then had to keep a 25-yard free-kick from Buzsaky out, but a Gohouri foul on Campbell right on half-time meant he soon had to face another one.
And this time Hungarian Buzsaky, who has started all three games since Hughes took over, stepped up and curled a sumptuous effort over the Wigan wall and in off the inside of the post for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Wigan got back into it in spite of Gomez blazing a volley into the stands early in the second half and their giving of space to Buzsaky for another shot from distance. This time, however, Al Habsi tipped his effort superbly around the post.
The visitors pulled their goal back when Maynor Figueroa was brought down on the edge of the box by Barton, allowing Rodallega to step up and rifle in a fine free-kick and lift Latics spirits.
However, after Conor Sammon missed a good chance for a leveller, Roberto Martinez’s side gifted Hughes' men the chance of a third when Gary Caldwell climbed all over Helguson in the Wigan area. This time, though, Al Habsi saved low to his right from the Icelander’s penalty.
That save left home fans on edge, but they were able to relax nine minutes from time when sub Smith received the ball from Shaun Wright-Phillip and sent a stunning long-range effort to the back of the bottom side’s net.