Hull City 2 - QPR 1: Dame N’Doye seals Tigers' win as Joey Barton gets NINTH red card

THE good news for QPR was Joey Barton avoided an EIGHTH successive yellow card.

Joey Barton was sent off for the ninth time in his career in QPR's match against HullACTION

Joey Barton was sent off for the ninth time in his career in QPR's match against Hull

But the bad news is they're still in the mire and will be without their crazy skipper again after he was sent for the NINTH time in his career.

And the controversial Scouser got everything he deserved after taking a sly jab to Tom Huddlestone's crown jewels.

He'd already risked a card by pushing Alex Bruce as players swarmed around the ref after teenager Darnell Furlong had almost ended his first team debut in the worst possible way.

He went clattering into Nikica Jelavic close to the halfway line and while Anthony Taylor tried to sort out the fuss Barton must have thought he was on the ref's blind side as he made Huddlestone's eyes water with a below the belt poke.

But the Manchester official clearly saw it as he didn't take more than a second or two to brandish his 20th red card.

It was Barton's first dismissal since getting sent off against Leicester City four days before Christmas, 2013.

Dame N'Doye scored the winner for Hull late in the second halfGETTY

Dame N'Doye scored the winner for Hull late in the second half

And his first straight red since he went berserk on the last day of the 2011-12 season when he clashed with Carlos Tevez, kicked Sergio Aguero and tried to headbutt Vincent Kompany in the game that saw Manchester City crowned Premier League champions.

Barton, 32, had the book thrown at him and was banned for 12 matches but will almost certainly escape with three games for violent conduct this time.

Chris Ramsey, in only his third game in charge, must have feared the worst – but the ten men grabbed a shock equaliser and held out until the 89th minute.

Robert Green had already pulled off a wonder save to deny Dame N'Doye but the Sengalese striker celebrated his 30th birthday with a powerful header and a second goal in two games since joining the Tigers when Robbie Brady whipped the ball back.

Hot-shot Charlie Austin, back leading the line after two weeks out with a bruised foot, had given Hull boss Steve Bruce even more reason to regret missing out on signing him.

He sneaked between Bruce and Michael Dawson to glide Matt Phillips cross into the net to cancel out

Nikica Jelavic's record-breaking 15th minute strike.

Steven Caulker tried to clear Tom Huddlestone's free kick but his sloppy clearance went straight to the Croatian, who had already missed with a twisting header.

He caught the ball on the volley and his perfectly struck right foot shot gave Robert Green no chance.

The goal makes him the Tigers' all-time leading Premier League goalscorer even though it was only his 12th in the top-flight and lifts his team four points above the drop zone.

HULL: McGregor, Bruce (Ramirez, 52nd), Dawson, McShane, Elmohamady, Livermore (Hernandez, 67th), Huddlestone, Brady, Meyler (Aluko, 82nd), Jelavic, N'Doye.

QPR: Green, Furlong, Ferdinand, Caulker, Suk-Young, Phillips, Henry, Barton, Kranjcar (Traore, 77th); Zamora 5 (Doughty, 64th), Austin (Zarate, 74th).

Man of the Match: Rio Ferdinand (QPR) – back in favour under the new regime and a reminder of his best days.

Ref: A.Taylor.

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