Boss Joe Royle said he had to field loanee Mark Fish in the defeat against QPR despite the South African's obvious lack of fitness. Fish endured a nightmare first half in which the Blues conceded two goals before being replaced.

Royle said: "I knew Mark wasn't match fit, but I had to play him because we have only four recognised defenders.

"I thank him for volunteering to play, but he was a long way from full fitness."

The Town boss felt QPR's second goal ought not to have counted but had little complaint at the scoreline at the break: "There were two fouls in the lead up to their second goal so we can have complaints about that, but not about being behind at half-time and we will have to improve on that.

"But there were positives to be taken out of our display in the second half and we could have got something out of the game in the end."

Royle had particular praise for two recent signings: "Sito was excellent, especially as he's not match fit and Jaime Peters showed signs of what he can do. He's got terrific pace and gave them problems and he's not 100 per cent yet."

The Town boss hopes to emulate last season's play-off finish but felt his side lost out physically to QPR: "We finished third last year and I hope to repeat that - but we desperately need another defender.

"We were not even there in the first half. We simply didn't stand up to them - and they blew us away."

QPR boss Ian Holloway was in a typically creative mood after the game: "That was one of the best performances from any team I have managed - but I still wasn't happy with them at half-time.

"I told them they should have been in front by more than two goals. That prickly character at Chelsea [Jose Mourinho] could teach us a lot about those things.

"If two flies were crawling up a wall, he would want one of them to win - and I want to be more like that.

"I want to get my side to a Premiership level, and after the Charlton friendly we were a million miles away, so I was quite depressed.

"But I managed to pick myself up and I think tonight was another step forward again.

"Ipswich are a great side, but we were on our game and created a number of great chances."

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