Smith believes the number of new signings throughout the season has affected their form on the pitch

Tommy Smith insists QPR will adapt to the changes implemented by manager Mark Hughes, but concedes that the number of new signings this season have made it difficult for the team to gel.

Smith revealed that Hughes has had his side working flat out in training to address the defensive errors which have seen them lose four of the six league games he has taken charge of.

The forward believes that a win over Everton on Saturday can spark an upturn in form, but admits that with 15 players signed since August, Rangers are yet to find their rhythm.

“There have been so many changes, and with the new manager coming in, we’ve had to try to adapt as quickly as we can, and that has taken a little but longer than we would have liked,” Smith told London24.com.

“He has changed a lot with the way we train and our approach to games. He felt we needed that bit more organisation and we’ve been working a lot on that.

“But it’s about having the freedom to express yourself as well as doing your job defensively. We’re struggling to get that blend and that’s why we’re starting games a bit slowly.

“Neil Warnock let players express themselves a lot more, he didn’t drill into each player the positional side of play. Mark Hughes wants to make sure you know every situation in your head before you go out there. There’s a big difference.

“Away from home it’s different because you can go and set up more defensively. He doesn’t want to be defensive, but I think the reason he thought we were conceding goals is because we were a bit open.

“We still believe we can survive, absolutely. We shouldn’t be in the position that we’re in. We feel that if we can get a bit of daylight we’ll be fine.”

Smith, who was part of the side which won promotion last season, also believes that the influx of new players during the summer and January transfer windows have made it harder for the players to form an understanding.

“You look at Norwich and Swansea, who we finished above, they’ve not made too many additions to their teams, and they’re both sitting in mid-table.

“I certainly think we needed a bigger squad, maybe two or three players. But I’d like to think that the team that came up would have stayed up.

“Did we need that number of new players? I don’t think so.

“The new owner has obviously got his own idea of where the club is going, and that includes improving the first team.”

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