Knight swoops to sink QPR

Livewire striker Leon Knight scored twice as Brighton maintained their 100% start to the season with a 2-1 victory over highly-fancied QPR.

Argentinean defender Gino Padula put Rangers ahead with an inswinging free-kick that eluded everyone, including home keeper Ben Roberts, after eight minutes but Knight replied just three minutes later with a diving header from Gary Hart’s cross.

Rangers were reduced to 10 men on the hour when defender Terrell Forbes was red-carded for lashing out at Kerry Mayo in retaliation to a strong challenge from the Brighton left-back.

Knight, signed on a two-month loan deal from Chelsea, forced Rangers keeper Chris Day to save well before hitting the winner in the 68th minute.

Fellow loan star Darius Henderson caught the Rangers’ defence napping by threading the ball through to his 20-year-old strike partner, who buried his fourth goal in two league games for the Seagulls.

Rangers finished the match with nine men after defender Clarke Carlisle had to be stretchered off following a late collision with Roberts.