The full-back won the ball cleanly ahead of QPR winger Ephraim who then went over his legs, but the man in the middle saw it differently and issued a straight red. The Potters were already 2-0 down at that point, but any hope of a second half comeback was effectively extinguished, and a second successive away defeat was made inevitable.
The FA panel have yet to hear the appeal against an automatic 3 match ban, but it would seem a little ridiculous if the card was upheld after both the referee and the "victim" of the challenge have come out and said it was not a red card offence.
Elsewhere, the rumour mill is still linking Stoke with a possible last gasp move to snatch former England, Preston and Bury striker away from Ipswich.
It has appeared inevitable for a couple of weeks that Nugent would be joining the Tractor Boys on loan from Portsmouth. However, the unexplained delays in the move and reports coming out of Suffolk have suggested that Stoke may be about to hijack the deal.
If the move were to come off then it would certainly add a proven goalscorer at this level to the squad, and would also increase the former Preston contingent at the Brit to 6! (with Broomes, Cresswell, Fuller, Gallagher, Pugh).
Stoke continue to be linked with a loan deal for Wigan keeper Carlo Nash, although Russell Hoult has been called back from Notts County to provide back up to Steve Simonsen.