Derry misses vital Swansea match after FA upholds ban

Shaun Derry yesterday lost his appeal against his controversial sending-off in QPR's Premier League defeat at Manchester United and will miss tonight's game with Swansea.

Derry, the Rangers' captain, was sent off for tripping Ashley Young in the penalty area 14 minutes into their 2-0 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday after officials failed to spot Young was offside. QPR lodged an appeal for wrongful dismissal in the hope a Football Association regulatory commission would take into account the refereeing error.

There were also suggestions Young may have dived to win the spot-kick, with the Rangers chief executive Philip Beard claiming the winger "could partner diver Tom Daley at the Olympic Games". But the FA announced the decision to punish Derry for denying a goalscoring opportunity stood, as did his one-match ban. The QPR manager, Mark Hughes, said on Sunday that Premier League managers were "losing faith in referees" as a result of recent high-profile blunders. The FA confirmed yesterday that neither Beard nor Hughes would face any action over their outspoken comments.

Hughes' side are fighting a relegation battle and were fortunate that none of the other sides involved made up any ground over the weekend.

"We're in a better position than we were before the weekend, with the way the results and the goal difference went," said defender Clint Hill. "The results at the weekend went in our favour, but the next two games are the biggest of our season so far.

Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair are set to return to the Swansea starting line-up for the trip to west London. The duo, who have contributed 17 of Swansea's 35 league goals this term, were rested for the defeat against Newcastle on Good Friday.