Debutant sub Tom Hitchcock scored in the final minute to consign the Blues to a 1-0 defeat at QPR. Town had gone close to going in front before the break when Robert Green saved from Daryl Murphy, but it was all Rangers in the second half with Clint Hill and Charlie Austin both hitting the bar prior to Hitchcock’s last-gasp goal.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with midfielder Cole Skuse fine to keep his place despite suffering a minor hip problem in training in midweek.

Academy second-year scholar Michael Crowe, 17, was named on the bench for the senior side in the competitive fixture for the first time with second-choice keeper Dean Gerken ruled out with the dead leg he suffered in a collision with Frank Nouble in training.

QPR included former Blues keeper Brian Murphy amongst their substitutes, while ex-Town loanee Danny Simpson started.

Rain fell steadily as the game got underway and within seconds of the start Aaron Cresswell and Shaun Wright-Phillips required treatment after a nasty-looking clash of heads. Both players were eventually fine to carry on.

On five Richard Dunne was on hand to dispossess David McGoldrick inside the box after Jay Tabb had crossed from the left, then Joey Barton took the ball from Luke Hyam as the Blues midfielder looked to shoot from the edge of the area.

The Blues had enjoyed the better of the first quarter of an hour and after skipper Carlos Edwards had broken down the right, McGoldrick just couldn’t get a touch on Cresswell’s low ball from the right. Moments later, Daryl Murphy shot over from distance.

After a 25th minute Joey Barton freekick had caused a few moments of panic inside the Town box, the Blues threatened again at the other end, Hill clearing Tabb’s cross from the left.

There was more danger for the Blues in the 28th minute when Dunne knocked down a Barton corner from the right and Wright-Phillips’s strike was blocked. Soon after, Charlie Austin saw another effort from inside the area blocked by Skuse.

The former Burnley man, who almost joined the Blues under Paul Jewell’s management, went close again a minute later, Loach saving to his left. From Barton’s corner, Hill’s header reached Nedum Onuoha on the edge of the six-yard box but he nodded the ball over.

Rangers were by now on top but in the 36th minute Town ought to have gone in front. Cresswell crossed from the left, McGoldrick and Dunne challenged and the loose ball fell to Murphy just inside the box.

The striker struck a low shot towards the corner of the net but Green did superbly to get down to his left to save. At the other end, Bobby Zamora lashed over after good work from Junior Hoilett.

Town weren’t far away again in the 39th minute when Edwards played the ball to Elliott Hewitt to his right and the Welshman hit a low cross-shot just beyond both the post and his waiting strikers.

Green was almost sold short by Dunne’s backpass in the 44th minute but the former Canary showed quick feet to take the ball away from McGoldrick and avert the danger.

Either manager could have made a case for their sides deserving the lead at the break after an entertaining half in which both teams had had spells on top and chances. But Murphy’s opportunity, which was very well saved by Green, was probably the nearest either side had come to a goal.

Ryan Tunnicliffe replaced Skuse in the Blues midfield at the break, the former Bristol City man having required treatment for an ankle injury during the first half.

On 55 the home side lost the dangerous Hoilett to what appeared to be a hamstring injury, Gary O’Neil replacing him.

Tabb got his name in referee Michael Naylor’s book for a foul on Simpson in the 61st minute, although the Blues’ midfielder appeared to have won the ball.

From the resultant freekick taken by Barton, whose set pieces had been a threat throughout, Hill — who scored his last goal against Town in February 2011 — headed against the bar. Dunne hit the sidenetting with the rebound. The Blues swapped Murphy for Paul Taylor.

Austin shot low to Loach in the 67th minute with the home side continuing to dominate the second half and the Blues only making the occasional foray forward.

On 72 Loach saved well from Austin after the striker was found at the far post by Simpson but the flag had already been raised.

Tunnicliffe cut out a Simpson cross from the right in the 74th minute with Town largely under the cosh and unable to keep hold of the ball. From the resultant corner, Hill headed well over.

QPR spurned a golden opportunity to go in front in the 78th minute when Wright-Phillips floated the ball over Chambers leaving both Austin and Zamora in on goal. The former Burnley striker seemed certain to score but somehow slammed his shot from 10 yards out against the bar.

There was a rare chance for the Blues soon after, the ball falling to Tunnicliffe on the edge of the area after Town’s first corner of the half but the on-loan Manchester United man scraped his strike wide.

A Dunne error allowed McGoldrick to bring the ball in from the right in the 84th minute but the striker’s shot from a tight angle was blocked by Green. His rebound deflected out to Hyam, but the ball caught the midfielder’s hand.

Two minutes later, sub Taylor was replaced by Frank Nouble and went straight down the tunnel, presumably having picked up a knock.

In the final minute of scheduled time, the goal which had been on the cards for most of the second half finally came.

Having been found on the left by a fantastic Barton pass, Wright-Phillips cut the ball back from the by-line and Austin’s mis-hit shot was tapped in at the far post by sub Tom Hitchcock, -the son of QPR keeper-coach Kevin - seven minutes after coming on to make his Rangers debut.

In injury time, Austin hammered a shot over, then at the other end Cresswell’s 30-yard strike deflected narrowly wide. Smith’s header to Green from the resultant corner was the last action before referee Naylor blew his final whistle.

After an evenly-balanced first half, Rangers took control after the break and should have been ahead prior to Hitchcock’s goal with Austin’s miss as glaring as they come.

The Blues battled bravely, rode their luck and created the odd opening, but overall the home side deserved the points, despite the timing of the goal being harsh on Mick McCarthy’s men.

QPR: Green, Simpson, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Barton, Henry (Jenas 77), Wright-Phillips, Hoilett (O’Neil 55), Zamora (Hitchcock 83), Austin. Unused: Murphy, Suk-Young, Ehmer, Shariff.

Town: Loach, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Skuse (Tunnicliffe 46), Hyam, Tabb, McGoldrick, Murphy (Taylor 62 (Nouble 86)). Unused: Crowe, Veseli, Berra, Anderson. Ref: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire). Att: 17,075 (Town: 1,789).

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 17:54 - Aug 17 Well we've played both the 'big boys' away and nil pois! - ok seems like we've played not too bad in the 2 matches and by no means outplayed but we are in the results business. Can we read anything into these 2 away results so early in the season? - personally I don't think so but would have liked to have got something out of one of them, so disappointing. As other posters have mentioned when are we going to see our strikers hit the onion bag?

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bluefeast added 17:55 - Aug 17 this league is about scoring goals and we struggle its so obvious.Mick doesn't like creative flair in his time. Ive said the same thing so many times , unless we score first we have no chance. Terrible 2nd half show by players who are average. Our front two are so poor as a pair ,out wide Edwards is a joke , we lack everything creative. Boring boring boring.
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directorsbox added 17:56 - Aug 17 MartleshamITFC, you ask when did we ever break a deadlock with a last minute away goal? The answer is just about this time last year- when we went to another outer London ground (Watford) and nicked a 1-0 winner at the death completely against the run of play. And the scorer was....Michael Chopra, no less.
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TractorBoy666 added 17:56 - Aug 17 And we continue to start the season with no striker scoring a goal. 2 outfield players, arguably 3 have scored in 3 games. If we want to win games, we have to find another striker IMO. If this means Evans putting his hand in his pocket, then that he must do. We've hardly spent a penny so far, so what harm would just one buy be that could completely change our chances of promotion? However, our defence is looking very solid at the moment and Chambers seems as though he's coming on leaps and bounds. Roll on next Saturday!

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BillBlue added 17:56 - Aug 17 Henners. I am one of the people who gave you a negative but only on your second comment. It wasn't what you said it was the way you said it, flippantly, as though there was no problem. Don't worry, by the way, about negatives. I think I hold the record with 25 (more because it yoyo'd up and down) a couple of weeks ago then about two days later most people were saying just what I had said! At least people are reading your comment.

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bluefeast added 17:58 - Aug 17 We need to rip up the wings with new wingers. Tabb is a central mid player , god im so annoyed ,we had no threat today at all it was pathetic 2nd half and we have 4 weak forward players who have had shocking starts. 1 goal between our wingers and forwards in 4 games. Weve lost 3 of those games and frankly we look so so so poor.
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bluefeast added 18:03 - Aug 17 Evans spend your money on some pace , we are shocking out wide and upfront in terms of pace. We frighten nobody are easy to play against and dull as dog dirt to watch.It should be about entertainment ,well I was there last week with 17k of bored fans ,it was so quiet and we were only slightly better than millwall. We are not a threat to teams. Morale is good or was before today ,once that goes we will sink. Relegation battle this season ,look at all the other sides scoring goals, I don't give a shi if we concede I just want to see more goals scored.

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Lennyboy added 18:04 - Aug 17 Remember people, this is still only the third game of the season and we all knew we had a tough start. However, we need something extra before we can even consider being contenders for a play off place. We do need to look at our forwards as none of them could be classed as a ferreting forward, much needed in any team; look how well we did with DJ Campbell last year. We were doing OK before Skuse went off. MM needs to gain a better striker, SIMPLES! COYB.

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bluefeast added 18:04 - Aug 17 We are a small club with quiet fans and no goal scorers ,leeds will rip us next week I can tell you. We will not win that game.
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Lennyboy added 18:07 - Aug 17 Bluefeast, we will beat Leeds next week...2-1...no doubt. We are at home, we supporters need to get behind the team and start bl**dy singing. COYB!!!
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LankHenners added 18:07 - Aug 17 Billblue - well, I didn't mean it to sound like that but then I suppose when you're just looking at words on a screen it can be difficult to judge the tone with which it has been said! I know exactly what you mean in that last bit - you can post (or can see) a comment which receives many negatives, but after a game or two, the very fickle members of this site change their tune and suddenly agree with you!

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TimmyH added 18:09 - Aug 17 Also have to say I do think it's MM policy on how he manages, getting rid of Martin and Chopra (don't forget Scotland) and hasn't really replaced them with anyone and to me this was an integral part of the summer transfer market. Saying that Mick has worked wonders with the defense but can't help feeling a large percentage of the players he has got in are of the workhorse category rather than than of creativity or scoring ability. Early days though.

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portmanteau added 18:13 - Aug 17 another tiresome habit which has carried over from previous seasons is the pronouncements by the pr machine on behalf of named players. please itfc stop this silly practice, it just looks and sounds dumb.
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BillBlue added 18:18 - Aug 17 TimmyH. This is the first time I have have ever almost entirely agreed with your comment but this time it is only 99%. I do not agree with your last three words. IMO we have Played 4 Lost 3 - that is disaster area and, frankly I can not see any real improvement in the offing, though I would truly like to eat my hat!
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PunchNoHopers added 18:24 - Aug 17 Gutted at the final whistle, didn't deserve that after a fantastic display by the lads!
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tractorboyz82 added 18:26 - Aug 17 No creativity no goal again from strikers defence is solid .people keep saying qpr relegated team best in the league but Sheffield weds and Huddersfield both gave it a go and scored we are a bottom half team at best sooner people realise this the better I think we were better last season team has gone backwoods
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Keaneish added 18:32 - Aug 17 Joey Barton won that for them today. Thought he was class. Don't listen to bluefeast, he's talking nonsense...again! Decent performance, not too disappointed by the result. 3 or 4 points from the first three games would have been about right prior to the season kicking off. QPR and Reading will both be top 4. Thought Chambers put in a decent shift against Zamora today. Cresswell was steady but not too many standout players. Tough ask for Murphy against dinner today. What injury did Taylor pick up!? Anyone know?

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bluefeast added 18:35 - Aug 17 “There was no injury at all to Paul Taylor. I put my faith and trust in him to go on thinking he was ready, but I don't think he is ready yet. We're trying to get him fit still. “I thought he could have been the difference because he's got that ability, but we were having to defend and Frank (Nouble) is bigger than him and could defend corners and free-kicks better than him. Keanish here is your answer to Taylor injury ,poor move by MM he wants to draw nil nil ,that in management is bad ,mentality is to win every game or should be..“I haven't explained it to him because it's straight after the game and he's feeling sore about it. Now's not the time or place to do that. We'll talk on Monday when things are calmer, “It's one of those he just has to accept.”

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tractorboyz82 added 18:36 - Aug 17 Mick said no injury to Taylor said he's not ready to play
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:36 - Aug 17 Although i do agree with the point that we need more creativity, the panic merchants need to calm down and remember that the two games we have lost have been away to Reading and QPR , probably the two strongest teams in the league and we have nearly got something in both. Lots of teams will get well beaten this year at both those grounds. Having said that i personally would like to see one more signing , and that being a Sharp/ DJ Campbell type forward and i think we would have a decent side.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:38 - Aug 17 bluefeast - bad management to draw 0-0 at QPR !!?? I would have been more than happy with that result.
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bluefeast added 18:39 - Aug 17 Ps opinion is not nonsense , I feel we lack creativity and have said it since Before a ball was kicked this season .We lack it the stats prove it. Our front 4 Murphy Macgoldrick Tabb and Edwards . Playing two holders means those four have to do the biz . Tabb is A central midfielder playing wide ,he is a square peg. No pace.The flanks are about pace and early balls in. Edwards cant cross stitch let alone cross ball. Very poor. But hey my opinion. And you read words not listen to them.

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bluefeast added 18:44 - Aug 17 He hooked off taylor as big frank could defend better. Well why not look at like this ,Paul Taylor could cause problems up the end if we had a player on the pitch who could pass a ball to him. Instead he insults taylor by subbing him after he came on as a sub. So now there goes another creative player ,down the tunnel disalusioned and replaced by a striker who is bigger and can defend, then we get done by a dead ball and lose. Sorry MM got it all wrong second half.

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tractorboyz82 added 18:44 - Aug 17 Could anyone point out what we've gained by dumping jet and getting Anderson I'm not a jet fan.
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RegencyBlue added 18:45 - Aug 17 Weird decision by MM re Taylor. If he wasn't ready to play why was he even on the bench? Must be more to it than that but either way it will not have done much for Taylor's confidence!
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