Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes was unable to inflict a defeat on his former club as Fulham left Loftus Road with all three points this afternoon.

Visiting Fulham started the match brightly and thought they had broken the deadlock in the third minute. John Arne Riise crossed for Andy Johnson to head past Paddy Kenny, but the former England international was ruled to be offside.

However, the Whites did score a legitimate goal four minutes later. Moussa Dembele flicked the ball on for Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak to shoot past Kenny in the home goal.

QPR's cause was not helped when Samba Diakite, making his debut for the club, was handed his marching orders in the 33rd minute. Having been handed a yellow card earlier in the match, Diakite was cautioned again by Phil Dowd for a challenge on Bryan Ruiz.

Clint Dempsey went close to doubling Fulham's lead before the break, but he drilled his effort wide of goal from a narrow angle in the 38th minute.

Rangers went about finding a route back into the game after the break, but were unable to create any real goalscoring chances.

Their best chance fell to Jamie Mackie, but the winger shot wide of goal following a passing move.

The loss sees QPR drop down to 17th in the Premier League table.