QPR boss Ainsworth: Leicester player’s gamesmanship helped Dozzell see red

Gareth Ainsworth suggested “gamesmanship” was involved in Andre Dozzell’s sending off in QPR’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester City.

The midfielder was shown two yellow cards within the space of a minute at Loftus Road with the game level at 1-1 in the second half as QPR stretched their winless run to nine games.

Dozzell’s first caution was for dragging down Abdul Fatawu before he was shown another after squaring up to Fatawu and pushing him to the floor.

“There wasn’t much in the game until Andre falls for the trick of gamesmanship from Fatawu,” said Ainsworth.

“Andre has reacted just as Fatawu wanted him to. I don’t think the push was hard enough to knock him over but I don’t think the referee has a choice but to show him a second yellow.

“We’ve got to learn from that, Andre’s got to learn from that. I’ll be watching Tyson Fury tonight and I’m not sure there’ll be a knockdown like that.”

Dozzell’s dismissal is QPR’s third in the last five games, with defender Jimmy Dunne absent against the Championship leaders after being shown two bookings in the defeat at West Brom on Tuesday.

The Rangers boss was keen to see his side cut out similar indiscretions going forward.

“I think of the four bookings that have cost us two red cards, only one has been for a foul,” said Ainsworth.

“The rest have been stupidity. We’ve got to eradicate that.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS