Stoke City left furious over major flashpoint in QPR loss - fans think it was absolutely “shocking” | OneFootball

QPR defeated Stoke City 1-0 at home on Saturday, with one incident in the game leaving Stoke fans furious.

Queens Park Rangers have won their third Championship game on the bounce after defeating a high-flying Stoke City side 1-0 at home on Saturday. However, one moment in the match has left Potters fans furious.

After narrowly avoiding relegation to League One on the final day last season, Stoke had undergone their best start to a campaign in 27 years, winning four out of their five league matches, with only a defeat at home to West Brom marring their perfect start.

Heading into their fixture away to QPR, Potters fans were optimistic about what their side could produce, but would leave the match empty-handed thanks to Harvey Vale's first goal for the club, meaning the match would end 1-0 to the hosts.

A disappointing result after such a promising start will have no doubt deflated Potters fans' moods, though one incident during the game has been the main talking point by both sets of fans on social media.

Stoke City fans react to Amadou Mbengue's challenge on Ben Pearson

A tackle from QPR defender Amadou Mbengue on Stoke's Ben Pearson in the first half went unpunished, leaving Potters supporters outraged that the Senegaleseman wasn't even carded - yet alone a foul given.

Mbengue's high challenge on Pearson went unpunished and Stoke were bizarrely awarded a drop-ball after the Potters midfielder received treatment following the tackle.

The QPR defender remained on the field for the full ninety minutes whilst Pearson would be substituted at half-time, and Mbengue would later collect a yellow card after holding back Stoke forward Divin Mubama, further infuriating Potters fans who were left bewildered at the incident.

A snapshot of the incident at hand and you can see why so many Stoke fans have been left irate at the referee's decision to not even book Mbengue, despite dishing out eight yellow cards across the duration of the match.

Potters fans have not been shy at voicing their displeasure at referee Tim Robinson after seeing their side lose away from home for the first time this season.

Tim Robinson received further criticism for his decision to leave Mbengue unpunished after his challenge on Pearson, and he even gave a drop ball after Pearson had to receive treatment, instead of a foul and a free-kick.

And in another view of the incident, a Stoke fan pointed out that if Pearson was the one in Mbengue's position and the roles were reversed, then given his reputation with referees, he would likely be sent off - which is a fair point, given his card collection over the years.

Stoke City will be disappointed with Queens Park Rangers result amid controversial tackle discourse

Whether the Senegelese defenders' dismissal would have changed the outcome of the game will forever be unknown, but Stoke will rightfully feel aggrieved over the decision.

Manager Mark Robins refused to be drawn into public criticism of referee Robinson, saying: "[Mbengue] has made a right mess of his [Pearson's] leg, a right mess. You can make of it what you will… I think the less said of it the better."

With an extra man advantage for more than half the match, you'd assume that Stoke would've made inroads, but that isn't a fact - what is a fact is that Mbengue got away with one.

Up next for Stoke is a home match against Norwich City, who themselves will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing result, having fallen to a 3-2 defeat at home to newly-promoted Wrexham.