Matt Phillips netted in the 88th minute to hand QPR a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Loftus Road. But for an excellent goalkeeping display from Bartosz Bialkowski Town would have been behind at half-time, but the second period was a more even affair in which both teams had chances and Phillips headed home late on to claim the three points.

Mick McCarthy handed Luke Varney his first league start since May alongside Brett Pitman, the duo having combined to created Town’s late winner against Reading on Tuesday.

Daryl Murphy and Ainsley Maitland-Niles dropped to the bench, while Luke Hyam missed out with a calf injury and was replaced in central midfield by Kevin Bru.

For QPR, who included former Blues loanee Massimo Luongo from the start, full debutant Conor Washington came in for the sold Leroy Fer in an otherwise unchanged team.

The game started in a blustery wind and with Town in their Barcelona-style second strip for only the second time.

Blues keeper Bialkowski was forced in a double save inside the first 35 seconds. Phillips escaped down the right and hit a powerful shot from a tight angle which the Polish keeper pushed away from goal. The loose ball fell to Luongo but Bialkowski was there again to deny the Australian.

Bru picked up his third booking of the season for a foul on Alejandro Faurlin in the eighth minute with the early stages of the match having been hampered by the swirling wind and a number of stoppages for injuries.

There was a scare for Town in the 13th minute when Jonas Knudsen allowed himself to be robbed by Phillips, who took the ball into the area on the QPR right before Christophe Berra got across to dispossess him.

Rangers continued to have the better of it and on 16 Washington cut the ball back to Sebastian Polter from the left but Berra got in the way of his effort at goal.

The Blues again had Bialkowski to thank for keeping the scores level in the 19th minute when Phillips sent over a cross from the right which reached an unmarked Junior Hoilett at the far post. The Town keeper came off his line quickly to block and Sears did enough to prevent Polter from getting in a subsequent strike.

On 21 a long wind-assisted Knudsen throw down the left beat Nedim Onuoha and reached Pitman, who slid in to cut the ball across the box but with none of his team-mates there to add the final touch.

Two minutes later, Bialkowski batted away a Hoilett shot from 25 yards, then on 28 the Canadian international cut in from the left and hit a shot to the keeper’s right that he got down to save and then claim at the second attempt.

Faurlin joined Bru in referee Charles Breakspear’s book in the 33rd minute for diving in somewhat recklessly on Sears, angering the Town players who surrounded the official.

Five minutes later, Bru gifted the ball to Hoilett, who just failed to thread Polter in on the right of the area.

As the half moved into its final five minutes the lively former Blackburn Rovers man curled another strike just beyond the top corner of Bialkowski’s goal from the right.

Pitman struck Town’s first shot on goal of the game four minutes before the break from the edge of the box but keeper Alex Smithies was untroubled.

Phillips again got away from Knudsen in the 43rd minute and crossed low to James Perch, who turned it past Bialkowski’s left post.

A minute later, an interchange of passes on the right ended with Hoilett curling a shot past the opposite post.

Town will have been much the happier to have gone in with the scoreline still 0-0 at the break with QPR having been on top throughout and having had all the game’s chances.

But for a number of impressive stops from Bialkowski and some important blocks and interceptions from Berra, the Blues could have found themselves well behind at half-time.

Town had struggled to gain control in midfield and had shown little going forward with the wind perhaps having favoured the home side during the first half, while Murphy’s physical presence had been missed up front.

The Blues remained unchanged after the break and started the second half brightly, Fraser sending over a cross from the left but beyond Varney and Pitman. Town continued to threaten in the opening minutes, Pitman heading to Smithies following a corner on the right.

But the home side began to get back on top and on 52 Faurlin wafted a pass towards Phillips into the area which held up in the wind and Bialkowski claimed.

Three minutes later, Berra did well to get ahead of Polter to nod a cross from the left wide, then soon after Smith cut out a ball in from the right.

Town switched Varney and Cole Skuse - who had appeared to be carrying an injury - for Murphy and Giles Coke, who was a youth player with QPR.

Murphy immediately won a ball in the air which led to a chance, Fraser hitting a low ball across the six-yard box which no one was able to reach.

Soon after, QPR swapped Faurlin for Daniel Tozser, then Onuoha was booked for a foul on Sears.

On 63 Coke played in Fraser on the right of the area but Grant Hall saw the ball out of play, then three minutes later Murphy cushion down to Bru, who fed the Scotland U21 international but his effort failed to test Smithies.

The Blues were in the game more than they were in the first half, however, even if the home side were still having more of the chances.

In the 69th minute Berra did superbly to get across in front of Washington after Paul Konchesky had whipped in a cross from the left. Moments later, the recent signing from Peterborough twisted and turned on the edge of the box before shooting over.

Hoilett was replaced by Jamie Mackie ion 70, having suffered an earlier knock when challenged by Coke.

The Blues midfielder underwent lengthy treatment himself in the 74th minute after going down off the ball but eventually continued.

As the game moved into its final 15 minutes Fraser charged down a Smithies kick but the ball flew out.

Pitman headed weakly past Smithies’s left post, then at the other end Bialkowski saved a low Luongo shot from distance comfortably.

Town twice went close to grabbing the lead with 10 minutes left on the clock. A long Knudsen throw-in from the left was flicked on and eventually found Pitman, who stabbed towards goal. Smithies saved and Sears got to the loose ball but the keeper was able to grab hold of the ball.

With eight minutes remaining Bru sent over a corner from the right and Pitman hit a volley which Tozser blocked.

The Blues had begun to look more threatening in the final minutes but with two minutes remaining the home side grabbed the lead.

Sub Abdenasser El Khayati showed some clever footwork on the right before crossing to the unmarked Phillips, who headed into the roof of the net from eight yards.

The Town players protested about a Polter handball earlier in the move, but to no avail.

Pitman looked to get the Blues back on terms immediately, but shot weakly through to Smithies, then Bialkowski pushed away a powerful Tozser strike.

The Blues continued to press in injury time, Knudsen sending over a low cross which Sears diverted to Smithies, then QPR eventually managed to clear a scramble in the box in which Smith saw an overhead kick blocked and Sears had another shot saved by Smithies.

In the closing moments Fraser pulled up short with a hamstring injury and Larsen Touré briefly took over.

Soon after, referee Breakspear’s final whistle confirmed the Blues’ second last-gasp defeat in their last two visits to Loftus Road.

Having been very much second best in the first half, after the break the game had been more even with both sides having chances, the majority of Town's late on.

But it was QPR - defeated 2-1 in the final minute at Portman Road on Boxing Day - who took one of their chances to claim their first home win since November 28th, their first at Loftus Road under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and only the second victory of the Dutchman's time in charge.

Town, who travel to Bristol City next Saturday, drop to seventh, two points behind Sheffield Wednesday, who came from behind to win 2-1 at Birmingham, who are now eighth.

QPR: Smithies, Perch, Hall, Onouha (c), Konchesky, Faurlin (Tozser 59), Luongo, Hoilett (Mackie 70), Phillips, Washington (El Khayati 81), Polter. Unused: Ingram, Angella, Chery, Petresso.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse (Coke 58), Bru, Fraser (Touré 9), Sears, Varney (Murphy 58), Pitman. Unused: Henly, Foley, Digby, Maitland-Niles. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 17,044 (Town: 3,188).

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 18:45 - Feb 6 Thank god Bart was in goal now who is different class in the true sense of the word MM, and whats the point of playing Pittman up top and hoofball tactics he needs balls played on the grass or balls pulled back not bloody aerial bombardment dont blame Pitts blame the managers tactics yet again.And as for the subs its laughable and he says there is no one better.
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Blue_Moses added 18:49 - Feb 6 So disappointing that we set up for a 0-0. Really poor performance for the away fans, worst £27 I've spent on a ticket for a long time. Hopefully the two nights out in Bristol next weekend will make up for what I expect will be a similar performance.
5

htb added 18:50 - Feb 6 We got exactly what we deserved. First half diabolical second half bad,did not ever look like scoring until injury time. The style of football is an embarrassment to the club.
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DannyITFC added 19:34 - Feb 6 It's about time Evans backed MM! The man clearly has no ambition while average teams below us are spending lots on quality players when we sign Coke, Foley, Toure? Maybe I should write to the club for a trial 34 years old is about right? Lol MM has done amazing with this squad and if all fit I fully believe they are capable of top 6 however look at the picture now - Fraser, McGoldrick, Bishop all out and our best players! Plus Scuse/Hyam having issues too. The backup is a joke tbh and Ipswich have cocked up massively not adding to their squad in the transfer window. Bye Bye playoffs unless the unthinkable happens and Evans actually takes a risk and gets in 2 or 3 quality Prem League Loanees (deffo a CM and Winger) but he won't as the man clearly has no ambition. I actually think MM has done a brilliant job it's Evans that will keep us in the championship for another decade...... What has happened to this club? 14 seasons in the championship is not good enough. Still you never know, someone one day may buy the club who has ambitions and drive who wil take a risk like Boro do but until then we will continue to live in the shadows of our hated neighbors Norwich. Evans Give MM something to work with or please leave our club!

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dusth added 19:52 - Feb 6 Is it agreed by all, pro or anti MM that our bench today fell well short of quality?
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bluey123 added 19:54 - Feb 6 Evans has no thought for this club it is a shambles from top to bottom McCarthy no better no shots at goal from inept players . McCarthy has to go as does Evans they are dragging ITFC down this was pathetic The only player to come away with any plus points was Bart and I bet he will be dropped when the wonderful Gerken is fit
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Keaneish added 20:02 - Feb 6 Make that 3,189, I had to dive in the QPR end to avoid missing kick-off! My mate who's a passionate Ireland summed us up today, he said, "In Ireland, we love Mick for getting us our highest ever World Cup finish and the football wasn't great but that (referring to Town), what is that? I have no idea what I'm watching". That's from a neutral. QPR fans are laughing at us too. For those of you not able to make it today, it was dire. Our only tactic was to dink balls in the channels or over the top. So one dimensional it was embarrassing. Skuse and Bru were miles off the pace and completely outplayed by Luongo and Faurlin. Only once did Skuse demand the ball from a Town player. He was bad but Bru was hideous. Off the pace, miss placed passes, not tight enough. I could go on. Hoilett and Phillips ripped us apart today and Knudsen was again made to look poor because they stretched the pitch and played round us. What was Mick's answer to a first half mauling? Drop Skuse deeper and get Fraser playing more on the last shoulder of perch further fragmenting the team. It was incompetency of the highest order. We went for a point or at best a goal on the counter attack and got what we deserved. QPR could have been out of sight in the first ten minutes if it wasn't for MOM Bart. The fact we're starting games so poorly suggests to me things aren't well in that dressing room. If anyone watching this today disagrees with any of this...how?

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:08 - Feb 6 didnt go, listened to match, QPR deserved to win,that cant be disputed. Bailkowski had a good game it was a shame he was eventually beaten .All week people been moaning about MM and saying Varney and Pittman should start and not keep playing Murphy,well they got their wish today and we still lost,thats life, too many people on here think they could be a better manager than the one weve got [and some we have had .] Time to wake up ,the buck stops higher than Mc Carthy .Just another thing to take on board is Norwich lost to far the worst team in Prem today,and look at The signings Norwich have spent out on .There are many factors that influence success or failure of a football club its not as easy as the psuedo managers here think .Move on now , next game ! COYB .

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 20:12 - Feb 6 I won't get this time back, and it seems that was a largely poor game with a largely ineffective performance from ourselves. Had to question why Varney was in the starting XI and if McCarthy (as read) indeed only saw the importance of victory once the opposition had a lead three minutes from the end - that was disappointing to see. We should ideally be taking points off teams such as today. The 'let's play for a draw' mentality would have worked if the team had held out for 90 minutes, that they scored when they did only adds insult to injury. Add to that, a serious lack of interest or activity in the recent loans window. As others have alluded to, maybe it's not just McCarthy who is at fault here, the owner must take his share of responsibility. Doubtless we'll get the usual "Well at least Norwich had a loss" or "we're still near the play-off zone" obligations, but for those of us who don't give a sh1t about a rival teams endeavors, or just not content to regularly mis-hit outside the top six positions, today was another frustrating experience. Like it, don't like it, we're not making enough progress and nowhere near good enough to realistically challenge the real promotion places as it once again stands. Once again, time I won't get back.

5

PMK added 20:16 - Feb 6 I'm not going to bother commenting on the game. It's been pretty well summarised. But have to mention yet another brilliant away following. 3,200 fans is incredible. Even though the game is not much of a journey from Ipswich it's still phenomenal support. Well done to all that still pay their hard earned to watch what mostly is pretty much awful football. I went to old Trafford Tuesday and Stoke didn't have anywhere near that many. I watched West Ham away at saints after the game today and there were empty seats a'plenty in the away end. I don't think I've ever heard MM mention what is clearly some of the best away support not just in the championship but in the country. And that p***es me off more than that s**t brand of football he decides to play most of the time.

5

surgery added 20:16 - Feb 6 Some of the people who post on here are unbelievable. It seems they turn up for games week after week expecting this one to be the magical one where football played on the ground will prevail and all of us will leave for home having been entertained. Does it not dawn on anyone that most of this lot are not capable of playing in that way because they're basically no good which is why they've ended up here having been given frees by their previous clubs? When all else fails just boot it up the pitch and let's hope for the best

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Beattiesballbag added 20:17 - Feb 6 Sorry to disagree with everybody about need to spend some money, ........but I hardly see the point in spending any money until you have someone in charge who has the ability to get his team.......sorry let his team play football.
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Hegansheroes added 20:23 - Feb 6 Interesting comment from Seasider that McCarthy got rid of a talented player within a couple of weeks of becoming manager. Sums this man up who has gone as far as he can as a manager & I don't mean just at ITFC but anywhere. He should not be allowed to coach even a park team
3

essex57 added 20:40 - Feb 6 I think a different perspective is required A.the game was played in appalling windy conditions. Our performance definitely improved second half and QPR flattened out after the first 20 minutes there wasn't much difference in teams and whilst if we had sneaked a last minute winner it would of been an injustice as much as it was an injustice for us to lose to say the Mccarthy went for the draw in my opinion was unfounded in fact many supporters around me before the game were worried we might of got spanked like at reading the way he set the team up still it's a game of opinions let's move onto Bristol.

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Keaneish added 20:55 - Feb 6 Sorry dirtydingusmagee but you criticised me in the week for a post which wasn't insightful enough and when you get insight you label it as an opinion from a "pseudo-manager". It was dreadful, one dimensional football. Fans don't need to do better, they pay a lot of money for people with more experience to do better and McCarthy is failing. 3,189 fans at circa £32 a ticket is pushing £100k in away gate receipts to watch a side kick the ball in the channel for 90 minutes and only ever really show any endeavour to win the game when they went behind. I watched McCarthy when the goal went in and he slammed his hand on the ground. Angry at not gaining a point. Well Mick, I'm angry at you for showing no imagination or real desire to out do Hasselbaink and win the game.

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markwill45 added 21:03 - Feb 6 So nearly the point we needed. Heads up lads and keep battling COYB
0

PJH added 21:09 - Feb 6 Very poor first half and lucky,mainly due to Bart,to be level at half time. Much better second half and created several chances but overall if we had got a point(or more)it would not really have been deserved. Now 3.5 away league games without a goal but today and at Birmingham chances were being created but not taken. Along with Bart,I thought Berra played well-particularly two tackles in our penalty area. Will miss Fraser and we could do with AMN coming in and producing now. Need to start a good away run going very soon-next week please.

2

StowTractorBoy added 21:11 - Feb 6 Cannot fault the efforts of the team today as they gave it their all but at the end of the day they were nowhere near good enough and lost to a team struggling to find a win. QPR thoroughly deserved the victory and but for three excellent saves from Bart the game could have been all over after 20 minutes. Berra comes out with great credit and did not deserve to be on the losing side but the Varney Pitman partnership backfired badly. I thought Murphy was awful midweek and deserved to be dropped but when he came on today was far more effective than the two aforementioned. Sad to say but I cannot see a top six finish this season as we do not score enough goals and concede far too many simple as. Fans were fantastic again today but until we went a goal down had very little to cheer about. Its days like this when I think why do I bother but its in the blood I'm afraid.

6

essex57 added 21:18 - Feb 6 Fatcatevans if you were at the game enlighten me please
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MicksZzzTactics added 21:22 - Feb 6 The football fossil known as Dinosaur Mick: "It was a horrible affair BECAUSE it was blowing and conditions were awful.”???!!! Ehhhh nice one Mick ... you ever so truthful SOB! But telling more or less porkies -- something which you excel at with alarming regularity especially in post-game analysis -- as always don't become neither you personally nor anyone else employed with this once proud club one bit, matey! I was there today and it's was primarily "a horrible affair" (from an ITFC point of view) because: You and your old reliable 'partner in crime' TC -- as always but especially away -- are 100 times more concerned with NOT LOSING rather than trying you best from the outset to WIN .... both from a overall strategic (if you can call the eventual and almost mandatory amount of ensuing Hoof Ball that!) as well as starting XI pov, the later generally consisting of a 'core' of your very personal pets & favorites ... all hard working 'grinders' yep, but with the exception of Fraser (and perhaps Sears if he was used correctly!) don't have 2 ounces of OFFENSIVE CREATIVITY in them!, and today you basically attempted very cowardly an old super favorite of yours i.e. to simply 'Park The Bus'!, you insincere ultra arrogant ultra stubborn fan-disrespecting piZzz-poor entertaining blatantly obvious tactical inept Irish football fossil!! Period. ----- Sadly lots of ITFC fans here (and elsewhere) STILL herald you today as "The best manager in the division"???!!! PleeeeeaZzze!!! Based on what exactly??? The fact that you are a penniless manager and still YOUR often sleep-inducing dreadful to watch very very defensive-orientated Discount-Hoof-Boyz are not only being hard to beat (surprise surprise :-) ) but SOMEHOW almost magically (read: generally just down to random luck and good fortune, in various forms. .. and then of course speaking last campaign 1 single individual named Murphy!) for the 2nd season running have accumulated more points than most so called 'football experts'thought possible on this hilarious ME budget??? LOL .... Yep you can rightly take SOME hard-earned credit in that Mick, but that far far from makes you "The Best Manager in the division"! Because "The Best Manager in the division" imo (as well as LOTS of others opinion)c an simply not be said of or given to one who so strongly advocates and encourage such ultra dire and hedgehoglike very-low-value-for-money kind of football (often directly what is known as "negative" football), is so otherwise tactical inept and tactical stubborn/1-dimensional and lastly is sooo VERY disrespecting towards the ones who among other things very strongly contributes to the realization of his own monthly paycheck I.E. his teams' very own longtime fan-base!!!

3

essex57 added 21:27 - Feb 6 Mickszzzz possibly one of the most boring posts I've got have way through then fell asleep
0

Taricco_Fan added 21:28 - Feb 6 Hoofalona.
1

happybeingblue added 21:45 - Feb 6 Hats off to Itfc fans who went today... Can feel the pain by the comments posted on here I've already settled for mid table obscurity due to the lack of funding for scouting out new players etc ... Although the current crop work like Trojans we need that extra quality in the crucial areas of the team and that has not happened and I'm sorry I don't buy all that... there's nothing better around than the current crop pony ... Show some ambition ! and as expected the injuries are occurring. Oh for a super Jim magilton type player.

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essex57 added 21:49 - Feb 6 Oh for a Beattie,Hunter,Thyssen Muren type of player you can but dream.
2

Cloddyseedbed added 21:58 - Feb 6 If MM does not think better players can be found than what we have on the budget he has to work with we are now in big trouble and he most certainly is not able to take us where we want to be in the way most of us would like to be taken. If there is not a big enough budget for improvement on last year and to date we clearly are not then that must come down to the owner. Every pre season we the supporters of our club are promised big things, in players coming in and the expectations of doing better the following season. Every bl**dy season we fail and yet we all remain loyal to our club. I am a true supporter and season ticket holder for many decades but I'm now seeing the owner needs to show the clubs supporters a bit of respect and MM certainly does. We are certainly not moving forwards. Good luck with season ticket sales and your bullsh*t in the summer.

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