QPR manager defends Diakite

QPR boss Mark Hughes defended Samba Diakite after the midfielder was sent off on his debut.

Diakite was shown a second yellow card 33 minutes into the west London derby against Fulham, whose 1-0 victory at Loftus Road increased Rangers’ relegation worres.

But Hughes said: “I don’t think discipline is a problem. I don’t think Samba was reckless.

“It was his debut, he wanted to make an impression, and he doesn’t know the Premier League.

“I take responsibility for that. Ideally you’d want to introduce a player like that slowly but in the situation we’re in we need quality players.”

Hughes felt Fulham should also have been reduced to 10 men when Moussa Dembele brought down Joey Barton but escaped a second booking.