Paul Anderson is surprised that QPR, Saturday’s visitors to Portman Road, are not occupying pole position in the Championship.

The Londoners, relegated last season, are currently third, five points adrift of leaders Leicester and ten points better off than sixth-placed Town.

Anderson said: “They are still up there and have a great opportunity but with the players they have, the money that has been spent and a manager with such a high level of experience, you would expect them to be right at the top.”

Harry Redknapp’s men started the campaign in rampant style, winning eight and drawing three of their opening 11 games. But the Hoops have subsequently stuttered and registered a mere five victories in their last 14 league fixtures.

When the two teams met at Loftus Road back in August it needed a stoppage-time clincher from substitute Tom Hitchcock to earn the home team all three points.

Anderson, an unused substitute on that occasion, added: “It was fairly 50-50 and we had an unbalanced squad because we hadn’t got everyone in. It wasn’t settled because we’d had quite a big change-around and unfortunately they grabbed a very late winner.

“It was a little bit disheartening when we’d played so well against the so-called big team of the league. But we’ve come on in leaps and bounds since then and we’ll be a much bigger challenge for them now than we were then.

“With the money their players earn and the way the club has spent money there’s no reason why they shouldn’t run away with the league.

“But football’s not as easy as that and everybody who comes up against QPR treats it like a cup final because they are playing against players who should be in the Premier League.

“Whether or not they are working as hard as other teams, you don’t know. They have great ability but we’ll just focus on ourselves. We’re not scared of anyone and we believe we can beat anyone in the league, including QPR.”

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls