A disastrous performance from Town saw them lose 4-1 at home to QPR. Appalling defending and the sending off of Jim Magilton allowed a game that should have been Town's to end up as a thrashing.

Town started brightly, playing an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation and were rewarded when Matt Holland scored after three minutes after a deflected shot had come off the oddly named Jermaine Darlington.

Town continued to dominate the game without ever seeming to show the form of earlier in the season. However, as so often recently it was a defensive lapse that allowed QPR to get back into the game. John McGreal, the man at fault at Grimsby, lazily passed the ball straight to an opponent. Gavin Peacock ran through to finish very neatly past Richard Wright. It was another bad goal for Town to concede.

QPR had come to Portman Road with as physical an attitude as Birmingham had a few weeks previously and this was starting to get to a number of Town players. The felling of Manu Thetis by former Town man Chris Kiwomya saw both Matt Holland and Jim Magilton have words with the referee.

It was Magilton who was to fall most foul of sacked Premiership official Paul Danson just before half-time. QPR scorer Peacock was lying on the ground with the ball at his side and repeated attempts to kick the ball by Magilton saw Danny Maddix and a host of other players run over and get involved in an almighty brawl.

Maddix and Thetis for Town both clearly threw punches, but once calm resumed it was Magilton who was shown a red card with the real offenders not even being spoken to. It was a very harsh red card, a yellow at most.

The second half saw Gary Croft withdrawn and Micky Stockwell at right back. Town started brightly and were unlucky to be denied a penalty. When was the last time we were awarded one? Johnson fed Scowcroft who ran into the box and was clearly tripped by a QPR defender. It looked an obvious penalty, but as so often recently the decision didn't go Town's way.

The wheels finally fell off completely for Town when a McGreal-like backpass from Manu Thetis allowed QPR to score a second through Wardley. After this Town totally collapsed. Heads went down and there was no way back. Further poor defending allowed Steiner to get two more for the visitors who must have been surprised to find Town in such a benevolent mood.

A dreadful display then from Town, the worst since Charlton away two years ago. Something pretty radical will need to be done prior to Tuesday's game with Charlton. A recall for Mogga perhaps, and a return to the 5-3-2 formation which has served us so well over the last few years?

R Wright 6 Possibly called for Manu's disastrous passback

Croft 6 Did little (Stockwell 45, 7 Never gave up)

Thetis 5 Dreadful Error

McGreal 4 Several bad errors

Venus 6 Not a left back

Clapham 6 Quiet

Holland 7 Always tried

J Wright 6 Anonymous

Magilton 5 Did little except get sent off

Johnson 5 Poor game

Scowcroft 6 Started brightly, but gave up

Photo: Action Images

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