QPR boss Mark Hughes described Djibril Cisse's sending off as the defining moment in Wolverhampton's come-from-behind 2-1 win.
QPR made an ominous start with new signings Bobby Zamora, who scored the opener, and Cisse linking up well before the former Lazio striker saw red for raising his arms to Wolves defender Roger Johnson on the half hour mark.
The France international reacted angrily to Johnson's late sliding tackle, grabbing the neck of the defender to leave the referee with no choice but to send him off.
Matt Jarvis and substitute Kevin Doyle scored for the visitors who recorded their first win in 12 games, leaving Hughes to lament a missed opportunity.
"It (the sending off) obviously played a hand in the result," Hughes said. "We were in complete control and it looked like we could run away with the game before that."
"If we had 11 v 11 I feel very confident in saying we would have won the game quite comfortably."
"But unfortunately we weren't able to keep 11 on the pitch and we conceded two poor goals in terms of what we could have done prior to the goals going in."
Hughes understood Cisse's reaction given the 30-year-old's history of horrific legs breaks but had no complaints about the decision.
"Djibril has raised his arm at first because he is disappointed with the challenge, as we all were and, with his history of broken legs, you can understand his reaction."
"But he wasn't sent off for that, he was sent off for what he did afterwards when he raised his hands again."
The loss leaves QPR just a point clear of safety and the result could prove crucial given rivals Wolves have now moved level on points and out of drop zone.
Wolves manager Micky McCarthy pointed to substitute Doyle who scored the winner and paid homage to his players who delivered the response he was after.
"I got what I expected from them. We've only had one 30 minute spell against a top team - Liverpool - where we've got spanked," McCarthy said.
"I generally get a response - they're a great bunch of lads."
McCarthy acknowledged there was some fortune in the red card as Wolves mounted a fight back almost instantaneously but said they were due for some.
"We maybe got a bit of luck with the sending off. Do you earn it? We've not had much good luck, put it that way."
A pair of second half goals from Jarvis and Doyle swung the match and McCarthy lauded Doyle, who made the difference.
"I changed it. I took Richard Stearman off, who has been a warrior for me, and put Kevin Foley at full-back and brought Doyler (Doyle) on.
"I encouraged Jarvo (Jarvis) to have a bit of belief in himself and have a shot. But I'm not going to take the credit because he was Johnny-on-the-spot."