Impending exit of Sam Clucas compounds QPR defeat for Hull City

Hull City coach Leonid Slutsky: Facing difficult time.

A bid from Swansea City for Clucas was recently rejected but he appears to have played his final game for the Tigers and the Swans remain favourites for his signature although Burnley and Huddersfield are said to have shown interest.

Slutsky said: “I think he is preparing to go to another club. I don’t know absolutely, but I think ‘yes’. I don’t know (which club) but it’s Premier League.

“I think there will be official information. It’s his decision. I only listen to information – I don’t take part in negotiations. I think a deal will be in some days.”

Injury-ravaged Hull led through Jarrod Bowen’s goal until Matt Smith, whose aerial presence made a difference when he came on, equalised after 74 minutes.

Seb Larsson was denied by a stoppage-time save from Alex Smithies moments before Idrissa Sylla scored Rangers’ winner.

It piled more misery on Hull, who lost Kevin Stewart just nine minutes into his debut.

Stewart suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury and Fraizer Campbell was withdrawn at half-time with an abductor problem.

Slutsky said: “With Kevin it was the same injury. I will not know more until we have the results of the scan. It is the same with Fraizer Campbell.

“It is very hard for us because we lost players before this game and now we have lost two more.

“Of course I am very disappointed. It’s a very difficult time for us – a very difficult period.

“We played with maximum energy and showed willpower, but it is a very difficult time. We will keep on fighting.

“Smith changed the game. We were not very good at controlling the second ball.”

QPR manager Ian Holloway paid tribute to Kazenga LuaLua, who played despite the death of his father.

LuaLua, on loan from Brighton, was beaten in the build-up to Hull’s goal and substituted in the second half.

Holloway said: “Our fans won’t know that his father passed away last night and he still wanted to play. It was tough out there for him and that’s why I took him off.”

QPR: Smithies, Perch, Onuoha, Baptiste (Wszolek 63), Bidwell, Scowen, LuaLua (Smith 57), Luongo, Freeman, Mackie (Sylla 72), Washington. Unused substitutes: Furlong, Ingram, Manning, Borysiuk.

Hull City: McGregor, Aina, Dawson, Hector, Clark, Meyler, Stewart (Diomande 10), Bowen, Larsson, Grosicki, Campbell (Mazuch 46). Unused substitutes: Mannion, Weir, Batty, Olley, Lenihan.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).