By Lucy Blitz

Queens Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth rued “a moment of naivety” from Andre Dozzell which tore apart a plan to secure a shock victory against runaway Championship leaders Leicester City on Saturday.

QPR hosted the Foxes at Loftus Road in search of a vital three points following their dismal start to the Championship season but an 80th-minute strike from Harry Winks saw Rangers walk away empty-handed yet again.

Ainsworth acknowledged a strong start from the R’s, after Stephy Mavididi’s opener for the visitors was cancelled out by an equaliser from Dozzell on the stroke of half-time.

However, Dozzell’s foul on Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu, along with his reaction, meant two yellow cards and a red were shown, leaving QPR with ten men and thirty minutes remaining.

Ainsworth explained that the “sending off really changed things”, speaking of a squad that has already been hampered through both injuries and suspensions this season.

QPR now sit in 23rd place, with just one point from their previous six fixtures, but Ainsworth still has confidence that his side can avoid relegation,

“It’s slim pickings at the moment,” he said. “I’ve got no centre-halves available.

“I firmly believe that we can get enough points to stay up.

“I’m proud of the effort that everyone gave. It proves that it’s in them.

“I saw things from the players that I need to see week in, week out, not just now and again.”

On the sending off, Ainsworth added: "Andre has reacted just as Fatawu wanted him to. The referee has no choice but to give a second yellow.

"We had a plan put in place that I think was working, but again you need 11 men, especially against the top-of-the-league team."

The Rangers travel to Rotherham on Saturday while Leicester head into a mouth-watering clash with fellow high-flyers Leeds on Friday night.

Foxes manager Enzo Maresca said the win was “completely deserved” but noted that coming up against QPR was not straightforward for the Championship leaders.

“[It’s] always tough, never easy,” he said. “I think the game was quite good. For the second half, we didn’t start in the right way for the first five minutes, ten minutes.

“Sometimes when the opponent is with ten [players], it can become more difficult. They sit there and don’t move because they are with ten.

“With that, it’s a matter of being patient.”