Debutant sub Tom Hitchcock scored in the final minute to consign the Blues to a 1-0 defeat at QPR. Town had gone close to going in front before the break when Robert Green saved from Daryl Murphy, but it was all Rangers in the second half with Clint Hill and Charlie Austin both hitting the bar prior to Hitchcock’s last-gasp goal.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with midfielder Cole Skuse fine to keep his place despite suffering a minor hip problem in training in midweek.

Academy second-year scholar Michael Crowe, 17, was named on the bench for the senior side in the competitive fixture for the first time with second-choice keeper Dean Gerken ruled out with the dead leg he suffered in a collision with Frank Nouble in training.

QPR included former Blues keeper Brian Murphy amongst their substitutes, while ex-Town loanee Danny Simpson started.

Rain fell steadily as the game got underway and within seconds of the start Aaron Cresswell and Shaun Wright-Phillips required treatment after a nasty-looking clash of heads. Both players were eventually fine to carry on.

On five Richard Dunne was on hand to dispossess David McGoldrick inside the box after Jay Tabb had crossed from the left, then Joey Barton took the ball from Luke Hyam as the Blues midfielder looked to shoot from the edge of the area.

The Blues had enjoyed the better of the first quarter of an hour and after skipper Carlos Edwards had broken down the right, McGoldrick just couldn’t get a touch on Cresswell’s low ball from the right. Moments later, Daryl Murphy shot over from distance.

After a 25th minute Joey Barton freekick had caused a few moments of panic inside the Town box, the Blues threatened again at the other end, Hill clearing Tabb’s cross from the left.

There was more danger for the Blues in the 28th minute when Dunne knocked down a Barton corner from the right and Wright-Phillips’s strike was blocked. Soon after, Charlie Austin saw another effort from inside the area blocked by Skuse.

The former Burnley man, who almost joined the Blues under Paul Jewell’s management, went close again a minute later, Loach saving to his left. From Barton’s corner, Hill’s header reached Nedum Onuoha on the edge of the six-yard box but he nodded the ball over.

Rangers were by now on top but in the 36th minute Town ought to have gone in front. Cresswell crossed from the left, McGoldrick and Dunne challenged and the loose ball fell to Murphy just inside the box.

The striker struck a low shot towards the corner of the net but Green did superbly to get down to his left to save. At the other end, Bobby Zamora lashed over after good work from Junior Hoilett.

Town weren’t far away again in the 39th minute when Edwards played the ball to Elliott Hewitt to his right and the Welshman hit a low cross-shot just beyond both the post and his waiting strikers.

Green was almost sold short by Dunne’s backpass in the 44th minute but the former Canary showed quick feet to take the ball away from McGoldrick and avert the danger.

Either manager could have made a case for their sides deserving the lead at the break after an entertaining half in which both teams had had spells on top and chances. But Murphy’s opportunity, which was very well saved by Green, was probably the nearest either side had come to a goal.

Ryan Tunnicliffe replaced Skuse in the Blues midfield at the break, the former Bristol City man having required treatment for an ankle injury during the first half.

On 55 the home side lost the dangerous Hoilett to what appeared to be a hamstring injury, Gary O’Neil replacing him.

Tabb got his name in referee Michael Naylor’s book for a foul on Simpson in the 61st minute, although the Blues’ midfielder appeared to have won the ball.

From the resultant freekick taken by Barton, whose set pieces had been a threat throughout, Hill — who scored his last goal against Town in February 2011 — headed against the bar. Dunne hit the sidenetting with the rebound. The Blues swapped Murphy for Paul Taylor.

Austin shot low to Loach in the 67th minute with the home side continuing to dominate the second half and the Blues only making the occasional foray forward.

On 72 Loach saved well from Austin after the striker was found at the far post by Simpson but the flag had already been raised.

Tunnicliffe cut out a Simpson cross from the right in the 74th minute with Town largely under the cosh and unable to keep hold of the ball. From the resultant corner, Hill headed well over.

QPR spurned a golden opportunity to go in front in the 78th minute when Wright-Phillips floated the ball over Chambers leaving both Austin and Zamora in on goal. The former Burnley striker seemed certain to score but somehow slammed his shot from 10 yards out against the bar.

There was a rare chance for the Blues soon after, the ball falling to Tunnicliffe on the edge of the area after Town’s first corner of the half but the on-loan Manchester United man scraped his strike wide.

A Dunne error allowed McGoldrick to bring the ball in from the right in the 84th minute but the striker’s shot from a tight angle was blocked by Green. His rebound deflected out to Hyam, but the ball caught the midfielder’s hand.

Two minutes later, sub Taylor was replaced by Frank Nouble and went straight down the tunnel, presumably having picked up a knock.

In the final minute of scheduled time, the goal which had been on the cards for most of the second half finally came.

Having been found on the left by a fantastic Barton pass, Wright-Phillips cut the ball back from the by-line and Austin’s mis-hit shot was tapped in at the far post by sub Tom Hitchcock, -the son of QPR keeper-coach Kevin - seven minutes after coming on to make his Rangers debut.

In injury time, Austin hammered a shot over, then at the other end Cresswell’s 30-yard strike deflected narrowly wide. Smith’s header to Green from the resultant corner was the last action before referee Naylor blew his final whistle.

After an evenly-balanced first half, Rangers took control after the break and should have been ahead prior to Hitchcock’s goal with Austin’s miss as glaring as they come.

The Blues battled bravely, rode their luck and created the odd opening, but overall the home side deserved the points, despite the timing of the goal being harsh on Mick McCarthy’s men.

QPR: Green, Simpson, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Barton, Henry (Jenas 77), Wright-Phillips, Hoilett (O’Neil 55), Zamora (Hitchcock 83), Austin. Unused: Murphy, Suk-Young, Ehmer, Shariff.

Town: Loach, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Skuse (Tunnicliffe 46), Hyam, Tabb, McGoldrick, Murphy (Taylor 62 (Nouble 86)). Unused: Crowe, Veseli, Berra, Anderson. Ref: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire). Att: 17,075 (Town: 1,789).

Photo: Action Images

LankHenners added 17:06 - Aug 17 I thought we'd cut out these 90th minute losses.
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itfcjc added 17:07 - Aug 17 Can't see this side pushing on when we can't put the ball in the net. Obviously the players spent too long training with Chopra and Martin.
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BiggestMick added 17:08 - Aug 17 It was quite a good performance but we really need to take the good chances that we have ! QPR were always going to be tough opposition but we realisticly could have won if we had just taken the chances !!!!! Lets back the boys against Leeds and get another win on the board . COYB !!!
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too_true_blue added 17:08 - Aug 17 Sounds similar to reading game - even first half but outperformed we one half. Still, we are pushing teams to the very end. So much more resilient this season. Coyb
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LankHenners added 17:10 - Aug 17 Just need to be more clinical (and creative) in the final third it seems.
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ipswichjames added 17:13 - Aug 17 At least there was another big away turn out, nice one lads.
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BillBlue added 17:20 - Aug 17 Anybody mind telling me what has changed? A sub comes on late and scores against us. I have lost count over how many times that happened last season. I am beginning to think we should start being like American Football (God help us!), have one Manager for Defence and another one for Attack. Nobody could question the excellent job MM has done with our defence but, unfortunately, it is goals tht win games and we still appear to have a dearth of those. Not a good start: Played 4 Lost 3 Won 1. We need to promote our goal scorer from the Under 21's otherwise we will lose him just as we did the last one who I see is now a full Internationsl. I gather David McGoldrick is an excellent footballer and holds the ball up well but where are the goals? Sorry, everybody but I am peed off.

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northernblues added 17:21 - Aug 17 I wasnt expecting anything today, but got to take chances, last season we struggled to score but haven't strengthed in that area, maybe hull got promoted with a top scorer of 8, but i'll take top 10 with a top scorer with 15 with positive signs of progress!
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Michael11 added 17:21 - Aug 17 Gutted about the goal but no one can deny QPR didn't deserve it really. We've gone to QPR and Reading away (arguably the two strongest teams in the league) and feel like we should have got something out of both games so there's definitely positives to take. 3 points from Millwall, Qpr and Reading isn't a hugely bad return at all. I hope Taylor didn't refuse to shake Mick's hand when coming off like some have suggested. Onwards and upwards to next week!!

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cleggo added 17:22 - Aug 17 actually slightly worried, I've looked at the team sheet and asked myself every week 'where are the goals coming from'. Yes, we scored 3 against Millwall which is great but it's games like these we need a goalscorer as we aren't going to have that many chances and unfortunately we just don't have one.
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Tractamatt added 17:28 - Aug 17 We will not get out of this league unless we spend money and right now we need a striker that can actually score and the one name that comes to mind is Billy Sharp come on ME show you really want to get to the premiership and spend some money where we need it on a player thats worth it and we will finish top 6
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rob7423 added 17:28 - Aug 17 QPR was always going to be a hard place to get a result! By the sounds of it we did well to. Onwards and upwards now!!!
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martleshamitfc added 17:30 - Aug 17 All this talk about a new striker, but we need a creative midfielder to create chances for the strikers. Also when do we score last minute winners?
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BrandonsBlues added 17:31 - Aug 17 Another second half when we were not as good as the opposition, nor the first half. Bearing in mind our leading scorer is own goals the lack of goals comes from the defensive minded team. It is all well and good being hard to beat but at some point you have got to create and take those chances to win games. How many teams do you see holding out for the draw or surviving wave after wave of attacks from the opposition knowing full well that at some point they will score. It was disappointing to lose so late in the game, but when you hardly get out of your own half you fear that at some point they might just sneak one and they did. Must turn defence into attack at some point. Tough home gamae against leeds next week I will take a draw

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J4ck22 added 17:33 - Aug 17 It's easy to say that if we took our chances we would have won, but if QPR had taken their chances they would have smashed us. Also, I challenge everyone here who is demanding a 'proven 20 goal a season' striker to come up with at least one who we actually have a realistic chance of signing, because all I see is moaning but no actual suggestions. I also think it's way too early to be moaning about it when we've played two relegated prem sides who have squads that are way better than ours, then comfortably beat another side 3-0, at least give it some more time before moaning about our lack of goals...

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Kesgraveblue57 added 17:34 - Aug 17 Cleggo is right it looks as we might have to dip into the loan market, no defeat is a good thing but in the real world we were playing QPR away from home, we as a team are making real progress it's very early days yet in the season
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Seasider added 17:40 - Aug 17 Only one away win this year which was against Derby 1.0. on 6th April.MM is hamstrung by not being allowed to spend any money;so when Cole Skuse went off at half time there was only going to be one winner and it wasn't us despite desperate defending and the woodwork. Surely Mr Evans must realise that you cant win promotion without spending any money at all,and just like Mick Mills feel we still require a creative midfielder and a striker being added to the squad to have any chance of going up this year.

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runaround added 17:40 - Aug 17 Gutted! So close to what would have been a tremendous point at a team who have millions of pounds worth of talent on the pitch. A narrow defeat at Loftus Road is not a disgrace but to lose in 90th minute will be heartbreak for players. I am slightly concerned about lack of goals away from home but the 2 away matches have been the toughest so games at likes of Birmingham & Derby will be more of a chance to see how our away form is. Hoping we get back to winning ways home to dirty Leeds

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Stato added 17:42 - Aug 17 Too many on here quoting stat that Hull & Cardiff both went up without having anyone score 10 goals but far more important stat from last season is that we were lowest goal scorers in the division. I'm hoping that Mick has been bluffing and there is still money in the kitty to bolster the squad.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 17:44 - Aug 17 I think people need to calm down. Last week it was euphoria. This week disaster. We weren't that good last week, nor that bad this week. We knew it was going to be a tough start and we have lost narrowly away to two of the fancied teams. We were comfortable against Millwall. Agreed the strikers need to score more goals, but we don't have much money and when we have in the past, it has been spent too readily. Let MM and TC do their job and build gradually through the season. We will not get promoted this year - that was never and will never be on the cards. Meanwhile lets curb the mood swings!

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itfc1981 added 17:46 - Aug 17 We are in a spot of bother. All our pre-seaon concerns over the lack of creativity in midfield and goalscoring ability up front are proving correct. Still, most of the temas in the league are poor so we can just focus on beating those clubs more closer to our level. That still may yield a play-off place if we do it very effectively.
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LankHenners added 17:47 - Aug 17 Why have I been down voted four times for saying what is clear? If me saying that we need to be more clinical (which means better finishing i.e. more goals) is wrong, then I take it that everyone is happy with the amount of goals we scored today?! Also, many people have commented on the lack of creativity before and have not been met with disgust! Have a group of people decided to get together and down vote me every time I post a reasonable comment? 'Cause it certainly seems like it!

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TractorCam added 17:48 - Aug 17 Really irritating to lose it when we did. We really need to take our chances, especially our strikers. If we can't i suggest Nahki Wells from Bradford who fires them in for fun. Another point, why do we keep getting injuries?
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stevelincsexile added 17:50 - Aug 17 What about thie fella Emmanuel Thomas he scored for Bristol City again is he any good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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RegencyBlue added 17:54 - Aug 17 Reasonable performances away against Reading and QPR but this makes our lack of goals even more annoying because we could have got something out of both games. MM has sorted us out defensively but where oh where are the goals going to come from? McGoldrick looks a good player but he needs the right partner. Murphy isn't cutting it for me, Taylor is too similar in a lot of ways and Nouble is very unpredictable. Looks like we need another striker and if Evans isn't going to put his hand in his pocket we need to look at the loan market. The situation where OG is our top scorer cannot be allowed to continue.

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