Goals from Alan Lee and Jon Walters, his first for the club, broke Town's six-match drought and saw the Blues to a 2-1 victory over QPR. Lee headed home in the first half, Walters netting after the break prior to Paul Furlong pulling a goal back for the visitors.

Boss Jim Magilton left new loan signing Franny Jeffers on the bench, going back to the Alan Lee-Jon Walters partnership which was yet to yield a goal. In midfield, Jaime Peters returned on the right, while George O'Callaghan and Matt Richards dropped to the bench.

Town, defending the Greene King Stand end, found themselves under early pressure with QPR winning a series of corners. The visitors appealed for a penalty after a Gareth Ainsworth shot appeared to strike David Wright's arm, however referee Rob Lewis felt it was unintentional. The spell ended with Ray Jones heading wide.

Gary Roberts came close to putting the Blues in front in the ninth minute after exchanging passes with Alan Lee on the left of the area and hitting a left foot shot over when a right-footed effort might have been a better option.

On 15 a good QPR move down the left led to Lee Cook shooting weakly to Lewis Price. A minute later, Jaime Peters shot into the sidenetting after a loose ball fell to him on the edge of the box.

The game was surprisingly open and in the 18th minute Martin Rowlands had Lewis Price scampering across his goal with a 20-yard strike which flew just wide. At the other end, Lee made a strong run down the right before crossing to the far post where Roberts knocked the ball back into the six-yard box but the danger was cleared. Dan Harding reached the loose ball first but he failed to test keeper Lee Camp with his shot.

Gareth Ainsworth picked up the game's first yellow card in the 23rd minute for going through the back of Dan Harding on the edge of the Town box.

On 25, Gary Roberts sent in a freekick from the left and Jon Walters's header seemed destined for the back of the net until Camp stuck out a hand to push it wide of the post.

But Town fans had to wait only a minute more for their side to finally score a goal. Roberts turned inside and outside a defender before crossing to Lee, who headed in only his second goal in open play since October, his 13th of the season.

Price saved from Rowlands, then Walters appeared to be pulled back inside the area by Damion Stewart, the ball also appearing to catch the QPR defender on the hand. Referee Lewis was interested in neither offence.

Alan Lee was close to his second of the game in the 39th minute when Dan Harding cut in from the left and laid the ball back to the Irish striker. Lee's shot looked goal-bound until it caught Stewart and went just over. From the resultant David Wright corner, Sylvain Legwinski's header was nodded from under the bar. Soon after, Walters hit a well-struck 30-yard shot which Camp saved.

In injury time, while waiting for a freekick to be taken, referee Lewis saw Stewart elbow Walters in the ribs. The official spoke to both players but showed no cards.

Town were deservedly ahead at the break with Owen Garvan and Sylvain Legwinski having had the better of the midfield battle. The Blues had also created the best chances with Walters unlucky not to open his account for Town but Lee getting back on track with his well-taken header.

QPR's Ray Jones headed the first chance of the second half wide, then Lee Camp pawed away Jason De Vos's far post header from Gary Roberts's freekick on the left. Two minutes later, Walters hit a shot from the edge of the box which Camp saved.

In the 54th minute, Lee and Roberts exchanged a one-two on the right of the area. The Irishman looked set to get a shot in until he was felled by Stewart, the linesman flagging a foul, but Walters picked up the loose ball and slipped home his first goal for the Blues.

The visitors almost hit back immediately, the Blues failing to clear and Price doing well to save a Rowlands shot which deflected off Bruce. Six minutes later, Rowlands hit another shot over.

Walters forced another save from Camp in the 69th minute when breaking away on the right, but a minute later Rangers pulled a goal back. Price tipped a Rowlands shot from the right on to the post but sub Paul Furlong reacted quickest to stab home his usual goal against Town from close range.

The Blues had already been planning to introduce new signing Franny Jeffers for Jon Walters and Jim Magilton didn't change his strategy, Town now lining up with their new Franny-Lee partnership up front.

Furlong's 20-yard strike was saved by Price, then Camp made an even better stop from the hugely impressive Garvan. With seven minutes remaining, Danny Haynes replaced Jaime Peters on the right of midfield.

Haynes and Jeffers combined well on the Town right in the 87th minute, the new loan signing coming close to a debut goal, Camp just managing to push the ball round the post.

Jones was booked for a foul on Harding on 88, then the Town left-back was yellow-carded himself for a poor challenge on Rowlands.

Furlong had a good chance to snatch an undeserved equaliser for his side in injury time, but Wright pushed him wide and the former Chelsea man could only shoot into the sidenetting.

As the final whistle drew close, the Blues might have scored again but Haynes and Roberts had strayed offside and in any case the former Accrington man shot wide.

Cheers greeted Town's first league win and goals since January 20th, the victory having taken the Blues seven points above QPR, third from bottom of the table.

The Blues deserved their three points with Owen Garvan the man of the match, the Irish youngster putting in his best performance since his return from illness. Gary Roberts and Alan Lee, both out of sorts in recent weeks, both put in improved displays, while Jaime Peters was again busy down the right and Sylvain Legwinski was unspectacular but solid in the middle.

Jon Walters again made intelligent runs and took his goal well and might have had more on another day, while Franny Jeffers showed his Premiership credentials, cleverly working a chance with Danny Haynes and holding the ball up well.

The defence was largely resolute, apart from allowing a late flurry from Rangers, and Price was forced into few serious saves, certainly fewer than his opposite number Lee Camp.

All in all, with results elsewhere going in favour of the Blues, one of the best days to be a Town fan for some time.

Town: Price, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Legwinski, Garvan, Roberts, Peters (Haynes 83), Lee, Walters (Jeffers 70). Unused: Supple, O'Callaghan, Richards. Att: 21,412.

Photo: Action Images

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