QPR are the side to beat if you want to win promotion from the Championship this season — that’s the view of Town striker David McGoldrick.
Ipswich travel to London today to take on Harry Redknapp’s newly-relegated side, who are most bookies’ favourites to make an immediate return to the top flight.
McGoldrick said: "I think QPR have the strongest squad. They are earning big wages down there, Premiership players and international players. They have a Premiership manager as well, just as we do.
"I can see it being an exciting game but we will have to be at it 100 per cent. It will be tough but we don’t lack belief and we won’t go there and sit back.
"We will be trying to get something out of the game. We played another relegated team in Reading on the opening day and their team was basically the same one that had played week in, week out, in the Premiership.
"We showed we could play against them and I think we should have got something out of the game. We want to get something when we go to Loftus Road.”
Rangers have plenty of big-time experience in their ranks, including players who have been capped at senior international level by England and other countries.
McGoldrick added: "They’ve got the boy Hoilett on the wing, there’s Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Jenas, Bobby Zamora and I could go on. They are all proven Premiership players but it’s a Championship game and we’ll all be up for it.
"If you can’t get up for games against quality opposition you shouldn’t be in the job. This is what I love about playing and I can’t wait for it. It’s a nice tight stadium and I’ve heard we are going to take a lot of fans up there.
"I’m looking forward to it — I hope I get a game — and I believe our supporters can feel the buzz about the place. They were out in force at Reading and they were even at Stevenage in big numbers on a Tuesday night.
"We owe them a performance and while we can’t guarantee the result we have to make sure the fans are at least rewarded by 100 per cent effort.
"I’ve played at QPR several times for both Nottingham Forest and Southampton. I’ve won, drawn and lost there so it’s been a bit mixed.
"I’ve scored there and not scored there but I always like going there. It’s a nice stadium, tight with a small pitch and the fans are right on top of you. With us taking a lot of fans it is sure to be a good atmosphere.”