Ian Holloway hit out at referee Keith Stroud over his decision to send off QPR captain Nedum Onuoha in the 3-0 defeat to Brighton.

Rangers were 2-0 down after goals from Sam Baldock and a Glenn Murray penalty when the former raced through on goal and went down under pressure from the skipper.

Stroud went immediately to his red card and Holloway felt it killed the game and was overly harsh on Onuoha. Brighton rounded off the win as Anthony Knockaert scored with 21 minutes left.

He said: “The sending off I felt was far too soft. It's ridiculous for me. But as a coach, I'm looking at my back line.

“Hally should have been round. Nedum was left with Hally's man as he passed him over. Nedum's shoulders are massive.

Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway
Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway

“It's the new rules. When he blew the whistle I feared the worst. Looking back, how harsh is that? Talk about ruining a game.

“We're 2-0 down and you're going to send your skipper off. It has to be crystal clear. I try and be unbiased but I am biased.

“That's as harsh as it can be. Sylla was smashed by Duffy and we didn't get a free kick.”

Rangers fell behind early when the defence gifted Baldock a shooting opportunity and he took it with aplomb.

They had a 20 minute spell where the Seagulls were pegged back with Massimo Luongo having a shot well saved while Idrissa Sylla missed a good chance and QPR were still in the game at half-time.

Holloway added: “The dagger in the heart was what a fantastic goal from Baldock. His first chance and it screams into the top corner. That's the difference I suppose.

“We still wanted it and still played. After five defeats in a row, losing three players in training it could have been massive.

“I was very pleased with certain things. Sometimes Brighton dominate the ball and hammer you. We did very well at times. We didn't get what we needed to get back in.”

Rangers needed to have a positive first 10 minutes after the break but Massimo Luongo brought down Dale Stephens with Stroud immediately pointing to the spot and Holloway had no complaints on that score.

He explained: “The second goal was vital and typically for us we go slightly deep. Massimo goes towards his own goal as we're all edgy.

“When it's pulled back Luongo lunges in. I didn't feel it was a penalty at first but watching it back it was.”