Martin: I think the fourth official was played a bit

SWANSEA City kept their 11th league clean sheet of the season at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run to three matches.

But the one low point for the visitors in west London came in injury time when Flynn Downes was sent off following an altercation with Charlie Austin.

He is now set to be suspended, leaving Swansea even thinner on options ahead of their clash with Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

“I’m frustrated by it,” said head coach Russell Martin.

“I think Charlie has been really clever. He tried to do it a couple of minutes before, he knows Flynn’s on a yellow card.

“He knows that Flynn plays in a certain way. Maybe a lesson for Flynn to learn. I don’t know what you want him to do when the guy’s got him in a headlock.

“If I’m his manager I’d be patting him on the back. I think the fourth official has been played a bit.

“I don’t think he steps out of line at any point. I thought he was great tonight. I’ll have to have a look at it properly, but I’m sure he will learn from that.”

Martin believes Swansea will improve under his leadership if they can add more quality to their squad in attacking areas.

The Swans created numerous opportunities to clinch all three points against QPR but were ultimately held to a goalless draw against a side that went into the match on a four-game winning streak in the league.

And Martin says he was immensely proud of the way Swansea stuck to his methods in the stalemate with Mark Warburton’s side.

“A couple of scary moments against a team that are in really good form, but I thought they were great. I’m really proud of the team,” he said.

“I asked them to come here and show courage and be the team we want to be, and they did that.

“We were dominant for large periods on a pitch that has not been cut or watered. It’s the opposition’s prerogative. But the boys showed some serious courage. Good mentality.”

And on the need to add to his forward options, the boss stated: “A bit more quality in the final third and I think we can maybe come away with three points, but back-to-back clean sheets, I think we got the least we deserved tonight against a very good team.

“We’ve said that all the way along. We just need a bit of help in that area. Joel Latibeaudere will get better and better in the final third, but he’s living those moments for the first time. He’s never done it before, but I think he’s been great.

“Cyrus [Christie], playing his third game in six months. Joel Piroe looked a little bit tired tonight and Michael [Obafemi] came on and gave us a bit of energy.

“They just need a bit of help. We have a lot of games coming up.

“I’ve got nothing but pride for what we’ve got, but we just need a little bit of help in certain areas.”