Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey believes Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Hull was “cruel”, while refusing to put the blame on Joey Barton.

The R’s travelled to Humberside looking to pick up back-to-back victories for the first time this season but were hurt when Barton was dismissed just past the half hour mark.

The former Newcastle midfielder appeared to lash out at Tom Huddlestone following a challenge made by debutant Darnell Furlong on David Meyler.

Referee Anthony Taylor spotted Barton’s actions and immediately pulled out the red card, the seventh of Barton’s career.

Ramsey’s side were already trailing to a Nikica Jelavic goal at that point but equalised just moments after being reduced to 10-men through Charlie Austin.

Hull eventually made the extra man pay in the second half when January signing Dame N’Doye bagged the winner, his second since making the move.

Barton’s dismissal looked to hand the advantage to the Tigers but Ramsey refused to put the blame on his shoulders, insisting there were a lot of positives on show.

Ramsey said: “It was very cruel and we’re disappointed to say the least but there were a lot of positives that came out of that.

“We need points, wherever they come from. At the moment when you are in the bottom half of the table the momentum always seems to go against you. If the team performs like that for the rest of the season I’m sure we’ll be fine.

“There’s a lot of optimism, the players are desperate to stay in the league and it showed today right to the end.”