QPR boss Ian Holloway refused to condemn the late tackle that got Ryan Manning sent off against Barnsley on Saturday at Loftus Road.

The Irish midfielder was shown a straight red by referee Tony Harrington for his challenge on Barnsley debutant Matt Mills four minutes after he came off the bench.

Despite going down to ten men, Rangers still beat struggling Barnsley 1-0 thanks to Josh Scowen goal early in the second half.

Holloway said: “I won’t bemoan Ryan going for that tackle.

“I think it was a foul and he definitely caught the boy. I think the ref got that one right, but I won’t ever stop my players from making tackles.

“We showed great character. Even with ten men, we all stuck together and got a great win.”

Manning will miss the next three matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United.

Rangers’ victory, after playing 20 minutes with just ten men, sees them go ten points clear of the drop zone.

After a disappointing first half, midfielder Scowen scored against his former club on 48 minutes. And his first Rangers goal was a special one, as he struck from distance into the top-right corner.

Holloway said he could tell in training that he was going to be in the thick of it.

“Josh scored goals when he was at Barnsley and we’ve asked him to get forward more. He scored a cracker,” said the manager.

“We didn’t play that well in the first half, but we relaxed a little in the second half and were a lot better.

“We scored a great goal, we kept a clean sheet - it’s a brilliant three points. We’ve played a lot better and lost, so to win in that manner with ten men is a good feeling.

“If we’d have lost that match, the difference would have been massive in terms of the table. But we didn’t and we’ve won these ones this season - Birmingham and Burton away and now this one.

“That passion and determination to get over the line and win that game are what I want my teams to show week in, week out.”

After losing 2-0 to Bristol City the weekend before, Holloway was delighted at his side’s improvement, with Rangers travelling to table-toppers Wolves next Saturday.