First half goals from David Norris and Daryl Murphy helped the Blues to their first double of the season as QPR were beaten 2-1 at Loftus Road. Town were much the better side in the first half but lost their way after the break, however, the home side could only manage Jay Simpson’s solitary reply.

Boss Roy Keane made three changes to his starting line-up, Jaime Peters, Owen Garvan and Pablo Couñago taking over from Liam Rosenior, David Wright and David Healy. Peters went to right-back with the newly-shaven-headed Jack Colback at left-back and Owen Garvan ahead of him in midfield.

Town had an early chance as they again started strongly but Gareth McAuley could only head weakly to QPR keeper Carl Ikeme.

But the Blues didn’t have to wait too much longer for the opening goal, David Norris suddenly finding himself in space on the edge of the area and hitting a left-foot shot which deflected past Ikeme and into the corner of the net.

Former Blue Marcus Bent was replaced in the ninth minute due to an injury and four minutes later the much-travelled frontman’s latest club created their first opportunity of the game. Bent’s replacement Rowan Vine crossed from the left and Jay Simpson headed over with Damien Delaney getting a vital touch on the ball as it came across.

On 19, the Blues had two chances to go further in front. Daryl Murphy’s cross from the right was headed goalwards by Norris, Ikeme saving. The rebound fell to Pablo Couñago, whose effort was deflected for a corner. From the set piece, ex-QPR man Damien Delaney looped the ball to the keeper.

Gareth McAuley made an important saving challenge on the edge of the Town six-yard box in the 20th minute with Alejandro Faurlin about to shoot. Moments later, McAuley and then Couñago both failed get a touch on a corner which had been flicked on by Jon Walters at the front post.

The Blues should again have added to their lead just after the half hour mark when Walters found Murphy in space inside the area with a backheel but somehow the Irishman put the ball the wrong side of the post.

Grant Leadbitter shot over from 30 yards in the 34th minute but three minutes later the Blues were on target again. Jack Colback played the ball in from the left along the line of the penalty area, Norris missed it but Murphy behind him lashed home his second goal in two games since making his loan move to the Blues last week.

Town had enjoyed much the better of the half, but after the second goal were rampant, Peters getting a number of chances to get the ball into the box from the right but never really creating any clear cut opportunities.

On 43 Damion Stewart headed a Hogan Ephraim freekick over, then as the half moved into injury time, Vine also went too high from the same player’s cross from the left.

The QPR players were booed off at the break after being thoroughly outplayed by a Town side putting in its best away performance in a few weeks. If the Blues had taken all their chances then they could easily have had four, although QPR fans will feel that they might also have had a couple of goals.

Rangers boss Mick Harford made his remaining two changes at the start of the second half, introducing the more attacking Adel Taarabt and Akos Buzsaky for Nigel Quashie and Hogan Ephraim.

The home side made their intentions clear straight from the kick-off, Simpson being sent away on the right of the area and hitting a shot which Arran Lee-Barrett blocked.

Town found themselves unable to re-establish the hold they had on the game in the first period, but at the same time QPR were making little headway in an attacking sense.

By the 62nd minute, the Blues appeared to have weathered the early second half storm and Leadbitter found Murphy on the left of the area, but the Sunderland loanee’s shot from a tight angle was blocked by Ikeme.

David Norris was booked for a foul on Taarabt on 64 before David Healy and Liam Rosenior replaced Pablo Couñago and Owen Garvan. The Spaniard in particular had been impressive, Loftus Road having been a ground where he has generally performed well. Jaime Peters switched to left-back with Rosenior taking up his usual right-sided role and Colback switched to left midfield.

On 65 Arran Lee-Barrett failed to claim a high ball, which eventually ended up going out for a corner, from which the home side pulled a goal back. The Blues failed to clear their lines and Simpson slammed the loose ball into the net from close range.

Town now found themselves under pressure and finding it hard to get out of their own half of the field. However, David Healy might have done better on one of the Blues’ rare breaks, shooting weakly at Stewart with keeper Ikeme out of position and with Murphy well placed. A minute later, Walters headed Leadbitter’s freekick just over.

Walters was booked for a foul on Taarabt as the home side continued to push for an equaliser and with the Blues having lost their way since the QPR goal.

Despite this, Town might have sealed the win in the 75th minute when Healy sent in a near post cross from the right after a prolonged period of passing and Norris stabbed just wide in front of Murphy.

Simpson’s shot deflected dangerously through to Lee-Barrett in the 81st minute, then Faurlin’s strike was also claimed by the Town keeper. Jon Stead replaced Murphy for the final six minutes.

Town remained under the cosh and on 86 Lee-Barrett did well to palm away a corner from under his bar. At the other end, Healy might have added a third for the Blues when he got away behind the defence on the left, but curled his shot, the last of the game, wide.

A thoroughly deserved and much needed three points for Town, who were the better side in the first half and ought to have been further ahead. QPR looked every bit like a team which is starting to get drawn into the relegation zone, while the Blues looked more like the team which was starting to make progress before Christmas prior to the recent downturn.

Town’s lack of confidence perhaps showed in the second half, particularly after the QPR goal and with the side not really gelling after the changes of personnel.

Overall though, the best possible way to start the four-match away run with the Blues up a place to 20th with Loftus Road once again proving to be Town’s lucky ground.

Town: Lee-Barrett, Peters, Colback, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris, Walters, Garvan (Rosenior 64), Couñago (Healy 64), D Murphy (Stead 84). Unused: B Murphy, Balkestein, Edwards, Quinn. Att: 10,940.

Photo: Action Images

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