The Blues suffered their first defeat of the season as they travelled to QPR and lost 2-1. Kevin Gallen and Martin Rowlands netted as the home side dominated the first half, before Sam Parkin scored his first Town goal as the Blues improved after the break.

Town made two changes to the side which beat Cardiff with Mark Fish coming into the defence in place of the injured Jason De Vos and Sito making his debut at right-back. Fabian Wilnis switched to the left and Matt Richards dropped to the bench.

The game started slowly with the first goalmouth action not coming until the 16th minute when Gareth Ainsworth ran from halfway unchallenged but had his shot charged down by Richard Naylor.

Two minutes later Gallen had the ball in the net, however Rowlands had handled the ball in the build-up and it was disallowed.

On 21 a poor pass by Jim Magilton gave QPR possession on the left of the Town area. Wilnis eventually prevented Gallen from shooting, Ainsworth hitting a subsequent effort wide.

Town should have gone ahead soon after when a superb Jim Magilton pass sent Nicky Forster through one-on-one with Simon Royce. The Town striker seemed certain to score but shot straight at the keeper. Neither Forster nor Sam Parkin could get on to the rebound.

Had Town scored, they would have led very much against the run of play. The Blues midfield had failed to pass anything like as well as they had against Cardiff on Saturday and consistently lost the ball, putting pressure on the defence.

Ainsworth sent a 25-yard freekick over the bar and then Gallen spurned a glorious chance from a Georges Santos knockdown, mis-hitting wide from eight yards having lost Fish.

Despite a number of important challenges from Richard Naylor, a QPR goal inevitably came. Tommy Doherty's freekick was headed across goal by Paul Furlong and Gallen was given the space to turn and hit a shot into the corner of the net.

Town weren't far from an equaliser a minute later, Fabian Wilnis sending in a dangerous left-foot cross but Nicky Forster's goal-bound header was blocked by Danny Shittu.

There was controversy in the 40th minute when referee Keith Stroud failed to book Marc Bircham for a blatant dive inside the Town box.

Two minutes before the break Rangers increased their lead. Mark Fish received a blow to the head and was grounded as Gareth Ainsworth chased the ball into the box, appearing to pull back Fabian Wilnis as he did so. The former Wimbledon man sent a low cross towards a line of QPR players waiting to apply the finishing touch six yards out with Rowlands heading the queue.

Town players discussed the dubious nature of the game with referee Stroud as Fish finally received treatment for the head injury and continued to do so as the players departed the field at the end of the half.

The Blues had been very much second best with the midfield unable to hold on to the ball and putting the defence under a great deal of pressure. Mark Fish, clearly very short on match fitness, had had a nightmare half and only the presence of Richard Naylor had prevented Town from going in more than two goals behind.

It was little shock that Fish was replaced at the break, Matt Richards coming on at left-back and Fabian Wilnis moving to centre-half. Kevin Horlock was also introduced for Owen Garvan who had found QPR's more physical midfield more of a challenge than he had Cardiff's on Saturday.

Three minutes after the break Horlock had a 25-yard freekick well saved by Royce. At the other end, Furlong struck a shot straight at Price.

Referee Keith Stroud showed the first yellow card of the evening to Martin Rowlands in the 51st minute for a late tackle on the impressive Sito.

Town were looking a much better proposition than they had in the first half and in the 53rd minute pulled a goal back. Sam Parkin slid in to take the ball from former Blue Georges Santos inside the QPR area before curling the ball over Royce and inside the post for his first goal for Town and his first at Loftus Road where he used to be a season ticket holder.

On the hour, Price did well to save a Furlong cross from an Ainsworth cross, prior to Gallen shooting wide.

A minute later Forster chased a Parkin flick into the area but the former Reading man couldn't work his way around Georges Santos in order to get to the ball.

Town were by now very much in the ascendant and the home side were starting to look rickety at the back. Shittu pulled Forster back on the halfway line after the striker had got away from him and received a yellow card.

Furlong screwed a shot wide when he ought to have done better before the Blues brought on Jaime Peters for Ian Westlake. Soon after, Matt Richards was yellow carded for a clumsy foul on Bircham.

From the resultant freekick, the ball was cleared to the edge of the area where Tommy Doherty struck a powerful shot which Fabian Wilnis deflected away for a corner.

Town came close to an equaliser in the 75th minute when Darren Currie played a ball in to Sam Parkin inside the area, causing panic in the QPR defence. Parkin beat the onrushing keeper but Marcus Bignot blocked, sending the ball into the air. Nicky Forster tried to get on to rebound but was prevented from doing so by Santos.

Two minutes later Furlong had the ball in the Town net but was flagged offside. Soon after the former Chelsea striker headed wide.

The Blues, and Jaime Peters in particular, continued pushing for an equaliser, but the ball wouldn't seem to fall inside the area. With time running out, the Canadian turned Matthew Rose and was cynically pulled back.

Referee Stroud awarded a freekick and looked set to book Rose until Doherty held on to the ball, preventing Horlock from retrieving it for the set piece. Doherty was booked and then Horlock was somewhat surprisingly also shown the yellow card.

A much better second half display from Town, with the introductions of Horlock and Peters entirely changing the game. By that time, however the Blues ought to have been more than two goals behind, such was QPR's dominance in the first half.

With Mark Fish a considerable distance from match fitness, the Blues may have to rethink their centre-half options when they travel to Leicester on Saturday. The South African looks several weeks away from being ready for the Championship.

Spanish full-back Sito looked composed and confident, despite a frustrating late foul throw, and will only get better with games.

Once again Jaime Peters lived up to his billing, taking on defenders at speed and sending in a number of dangerous crosses. It can only be a matter of time before he makes his first start, and with Jim Magilton having played 180 minutes already this week, Joe Royle could well give him the nod at Leicester.

Town: Price, Sito, Wilnis, Fish (Richards 46), Naylor, Magilton, Garvan (Horlock 46), Westlake, Currie, Parkin, Forster. Unused: Supple, Bowditch. Att: 14,632.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls