Since Hughes replaced Neil Warnock in early January the Loftus Road club have taken just four points from six league matches.

The 17th-placed side are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Moyes said not every new manager could have an instant impact and Rs fans would have to be patient.

"When a new manager comes in you can sometimes get the instant effect of winning a few games like Martin O'Neill (at Sunderland)," he said.

"But in other situations it takes time to get results and bed in what you are trying to do.

"But there is no right way and wrong way because if that was the case chairman would be changing managers every three months just to get an instant hit.

"It is one of these things: I am sure in time Mark Hughes will prove his ability as a manager at QPR.

"I am maybe not surprised (at their league position) because you wouldn't expect a newly-promoted team to be much further up.

"But I've said from the start of the season I expected the newly-promoted teams to stay up and I still believe that.

"Norwich are almost a certainty and Swansea are close to being safe and the only ones who are in any difficulty are QPR but I've always had a feeling they have enough to get out of trouble.

"They have spent well and they will fight all the way to the end."

The situation at Everton has improved dramatically since QPR inflicted a Goodison Park defeat on the Toffees in their first match of the season.

Moyes' side are currently seven matches unbeaten but the manager admits they are entering a crucial period with seven matches in 29 days.

"We have a tough March. I think it is harsh you get given a derby game (rearranged from last weekend because of Liverpool's Carling Cup final involvement) before an FA Cup tie but it is the same for Liverpool," he added.

"After the FA Cup tie (at home to Sunderland) we have Arsenal in midweek as well so we are in a really tough schedule."

Moyes is hopeful, however, he will have a stronger squad in which to face such a packed schedule as midfielders Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman played for the reserves in midweek while striker Nikica Jelavic also had a run-out for Croatia.

"I would have struggled to put a team out in the (now rescheduled) league game against Liverpool last week because of injuries," added the Toffees boss.

"Jelavic played 45 minutes for Croatia so we are closer to getting him back available, I am not quite sure on the others yet."

Everton will be missing midfielder Darron Gibson, however, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.

"It is going to be a big blow because he has played all the games (since signing from Manchester United in January) and we've not lost since he's been in the team," he said.

"We always had a worry he may pick up an injury because we've had to play him regularly and when you have not played as regularly as he has for us it was always going to be a danger.

"But I've not been able to take him out. It is not an over-use injury, it is a ligament injury in his knee, so there is not much we could do about it."