Town will rue several missed chances after surrendering a 1-0 lead to QPR, Sylvain Legwinski having put the Blues in front just after half-time with a stunning 30-yarder.

Jim Magilton named the side predicted on Friday with Sylvain Legwinski coming into a five-man midfield and Pablo Couñago dropping to the bench. Out-of-favour right-back Sito sat amongst the Blues support for the duration of the game.

Billy Clarke headed an Alan Lee cross from the right straight to QPR keeper Lee Camp in the third minute, but the opening stages of the game were otherwise dominated by the home side.

The Blues found it hard to get their passing going, but although enjoying most of the possession, Rangers failed to manage a shot until the 20th minute when Rowan Vine was given time and space to hit a 20-yard shot which flew just wide.

Four minutes later, Martin Rowlands went wide from 30 yards, then Gareth Ainsworth's shot from a similar distance failed to sting Neil Alexander's hands.

Gary Roberts replaced Tommy Miller in the 31st minute with the midfielder having struggled with what appeared to be an ankle injury for several minutes. Roberts went to the left-sided role with Billy Clarke taking over as the advanced man in the central midfield three.

Mikele Leigertwood shot across the face of goal, then Alexander saved a Rowlands effort.

For Town, Roberts hit a strike wide from the edge of the area with the half's final goalmouth action.

It had been a highly unmemorable first period in which Town had never got into their stride. QPR had enjoyed much more of the play but had created nothing which had troubled Alexander.

The Blues looked a different proposition after the break. In the 50th minute, a good move ended with Owen Garvan crossing from the right, Gary Roberts hitting the ball back across goal from the left and Billy Clarke's strike from a tight angle on the right being scrambled behind.

Town very quickly turned their superiority into a goal. Garvan took a quick throw-in on the left to Sylvain Legwinski, who superbly flicked the ball up and looped a shot over Camp and into the corner of the net for his second goal in two away starts.

The Blues were very much on top, but sub Marc Nygaard's header over was a reminder to keep things tight at the back.

On 63 Jon Walters, who was in the game more in the second half, crossed from the right, Roberts sent the ball back across goal from the left and Billy Clarke's flick flew very narrowly wide of the post, although the Irishman will feel he should have scored.

The Republic of Ireland U21 cap saw a goalbound effort deflect wide for a corner in the 70th minute as Town continued to push for a second goal.

However, two minutes later QPR were back on terms when Nygaard was sent away through on goal after Dan Harding's toe deflected the ball into his path from the edge of the area. The Dane comfortably beat Alexander.

Vine picked up the game's first yellow card for a high lunge on Sylvain Legwinski, prior to Martin Cranie making an important challenge on Alan Lee inside the area with the striker about to unleash a shot.

From the resultant corner, Jason De Vos failed to make a significant contact with his head when unmarked six yards out and the ball flew wide. The Town skipper will definitely have thought he should have scored.

Lee had a header cleared off the line from a subsequent corner, before Danny Haynes took over from Billy Clarke, the young Irishman having looked more confident than at any stage since the beginning of last season.

Legwinski scooped De Vos's knockdown from a freekick over, before Pablo Couñago replaced Alan Lee in the Town attack.

Vine volleyed wide, then the Blues again came close to a second goal when Roberts crossed from the left and Haynes headed goalwards, only for Camp to get down quickly to his right to save.

That was as near as Town would come to the goal which would have brought them their first away win since the game at Luton in March. The Blues would have deserved the victory on the strength of a much improved second half display, but once again defensive frailties allowed the opposition a goal with action in the Town penalty area a rarity after the break.

At the other end of field, Clarke, De Vos, Lee and Haynes all came close to grabbing a second goal and that elusive away victory.

Overall though, a second consecutive away draw is not to be sniffed at, despite performances away from Portman Road remaining significantly below and less consistent than those at home.

Town will now look to the derby at Carrow Road on Sunday, November 4th for their next opportunity to finally grab an away win.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Wilnis, Garvan, Legwinski, Miller (Roberts 31), Clarke (Haynes 79), Walters, Lee (Couñago 84). Unused: Supple, Bruce. Att: 13,946.

Photo: Action Images

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