So, Charlie Austin could have had a hat-trick and Sergio Aguero might have handled the ball in scoring a goal from the top drawer. Throw in five yellow cards and it's been a manic 45 minutes for referee Mike Dean.

A look through the rule book with a finer-toothed comb suggests that referee Mike Dean got the call right after all.

"If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area:

• the kick is retaken."

So QPR shouldn't have had a free-kick after Charlie Austin's second disallowed goal. As you were.

Who would be a referee?

It's been quite lively at Loftus, hasn't it?

Now Mike Dean is dishing out yellows to Samir Nasri and Eduardo Vargas. Someone's bound to get sent off at this rate.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom, London: Referee got the Joe Hart free-kick decision right (see 17:38). Law 13 says 'once ball is in play'. For free-kicks inside the penalty area, the ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area.

Peter, Isle of Man: The key is that the ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area and so Joe Hart gets to take it again, that's the law.

Rangers with a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Eduardo Vargas hits it straight into the City wall.

Image source, Reuters

Charles: Manchester City look awful. Full credit to QPR but City look disorganised and short on confidence. Chelsea may as well be given the Premier League title already - the only team in the league with any consistency or ability to dominate games.

Charlie Austin v Joe Hart is turning into a right battle. This time the City stopper make a fine point-blank save from the Rangers striker, who was actually offside. Still, a decent save.

Image source, Reuters

Richard Dunne is the latest player into the book, this time for scything down Samir Nasri. Rangers need to keep their discipline here, because they have played well enough to suggest they can still get a decent result here. If they keep their full complement, that is.

Sergio Aguero is causing lots of problems for Rangers now and he's brought down on the edge of the box by Mauricio Isla who is booked for his troubles. Yaya Toure blazes the subsequent free-kick over the bar.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Gillick:, external Sergio Aguero is unbelievable.

Liz tray:, external Handball? Yes but accidental. No move of the arm. QPR goal offside anyway. Still, another poor performance. Can't pass anymore!

Yaya Toure flashes another shot wide. Once he gets his radar right, Rangers could be in trouble.

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Loftus Road

"We are struggling again without the benefit of a replay but it was a piece of magnificent control by Sergio Aguero, either with or without the use of a hand. The word from our studio is that it grazed the top of his arm.

"City have been crushed but they are now at 1-1 because the team has one or two very special players. To bring that down out of the sky, juggle it, and put the finish away? World class."

What a tremendous goal. Sergio Aguero has stepped up when it matters for his side - collecting a long ball forward from Eliaquim Mangala and showing Bergkamp-like control to brings the ball under his spell inside the box before lethally finishing past Rob Green.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Loftus Road

"Manchester City are missing David Silva today. In moments of crisis - and this has been 27 minutes of crisis so far- we look to them to put their foot on the ball, to control the game in difficult moments and to give the team a lift. That is what makes those players extra special."

Manchester City finally show some attacking purpose as Yaya Toure bends an effort just over the bar. Close, but no cigar.

There's a debate raging on the BBC football desk about the merits of Charlie Austin. The general consensus is that he should probably get an England call, but he also needs Bobby Zamora to play up top alongside him...

Rich:, external Why was Joe Hart allowed to re-take the goal kick, when it was his mistake? Surely QPR should be awarded an indirect free-kick?

Adam Knott:, external Mike Dean doesn't know the laws of the game. Double touch = indirect free kick to the other team. Law 13 (see 17:55).

It appears that QPR should have been awarded a free-kick inside the penalty area when Joe Hart fluffed his free-kick.

I quote, from The FA Law 13

"Free kick taken by the goalkeeper

"If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except with his hands), before it has touched another player:

an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred."

Read more on the rule here., external

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Loftus Road

"No team can withstand the kind of pressure Manchester City have been put under without conceding eventually. Charlie Austin has finally got his reward and has put QPR in front. They've have got their tails up and quite rightly so. But there is a massive gap between Gael Clichy and Eliaquim Mangala. That is where all three of Austin's chances have come from. City are getting a tatering here."