Second-half goals from Niko Kranjcar, Gary O’Neil and Armand Traore saw QPR to a 3-1 victory at Portman Road, Tommy Smith volleying a spectacular injury time consolation for the Blues. Town had been the better side before the break with visitors’ keeper Rob Green making an important stop to deny skipper Luke Chambers.

Mick McCarthy returned to his 4-3-3 formation with Paul Anderson starting on the left of the three-man attack alongside David McGoldrick and Paul Taylor, although with the trip regularly switching around throughout the half.

Yossi Benayoun headed an early Tom Carroll cross well wide for the visitors, but it was the Blues who enjoyed most of the possession in a cagey and uneventful opening.

Chances were rare in the opening quarter of an hour but with Rangers getting on top and forcing two corners, although Joey Barton was unable to create any threat from either. From the second, McGoldrick broke for the Blues but was unable to find Anderson on the left of the area.

On 17 the Town top scorer shot over from 25 yards as the momentum swung back towards the Blues, whose support was boosted by 120 Fortuna Dusseldorf fans in the lower tier of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

A minute later, Taylor saw a shot blocked after good work from Luke Hyam on the left, then in the 22nd minute Aaron Cresswell’s effort was blocked after Anderson had twice crossed from the right. Soon after Hyam was booked for a foul on Barton.

Town repeatedly went close to going in front in the 25th minute in a goalmouth scramble from which QPR were fortunate to escape. Chambers exchanged passes with Anderson, who stabbed the ball back into his path inside the area on the right.

The Blues right-back’s shot was superbly saved by Rob Green and Hyam was just prevented from touching home the rebound by one-time Town loanee Danny Simpson's challenge. Chambers cut the loose ball back across the box and it was half-cleared by Barton.

But Rangers were unable to get the ball completely away from goal and Hyam ran in from the left and found Chambers, who turned his shot over from eight yards. The Blues were somewhat unfortunate not to be in front.

After Anderson had failed to make the most of a break down the right when Clint Hill was caught in possession, Gary O’Neil sent a dangerous ball across the Blues’ six-yard box, Ryan Tunnicliffe diverting it behind at the back post.

But overall Town were still on top with McGoldrick hitting a 31st minute shot which was deflected wide.

Town keeper Dean Gerken was forced into serious action for the first time in the 34th minute when O’Neil chipped a cross in from the right. One-time Town target Charlie Austin headed goalwards but Gerken tipped over.

Almost immediately the action moved to the other end, Taylor breaking away on the right at pace but his shot was blocked. McGoldrick subsequently volleyed the dropping ball not far wide from 25 yards.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 37th minute when, after a mix-up between Smith and Skuse, Austin found himself through on goal. However, Berra got back to make a superb saving challenge.

The game had developed into an exciting end to end affair and the visitors threatened again a minute later when Chambers cleared ahead of Austin after a freekick had fallen to the striker off Skuse. Moments later, Barton was replaced by Karl Henry having suffered what looked like a groin injury.

A minute before the end of normal time, Anderson hit a powerful 25-yard strike which Green couldn’t hold onto but reclaimed ahead of McGoldrick. Second later, Skuse played in Taylor, the striker losing his footing as he looked to take the ball past Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

A thoroughly entertaining half came to an end with the stalemate yet to be broken. After a very quiet opening, the Blues had gradually take control and had most of the better chances, although with the visitors also having threatened.

Taylor struck a low shot which Green claimed soon after the restart with Blues continuing where they had left off before the break in the early stages.

But it was the visitors who went ahead in the 52nd minute. Niko Kranjcar brought the ball in from the left across the edge of the area before hitting a low shot which Gerken appeared to get a hand to but was unable to prevent from crossing the line.

On 58 QPR skipper Hill got his name in referee Phil Dowd’s book for wasting time at a freekick after Assou-Ekotto had fouled Taylor.

Rangers increased their lead in the 66th minute. Austin hit a low 25-yard shot which Gerken saved down to his left but palmed back into the path of the on-rushing O’Neil, who followed up to tap home. The Town keeper, so impressive in recent matches, will be disappointed not to have pushed his save away from the danger zone.

The Blues had been less of a threat having gone behind but hadn’t been put under particular pressure by the West Londoners prior to their second goal.

Manager McCarthy switched Hyam and Anderson for Stephen Hunt and Frank Nouble for the final 18 minutes. Soon after, Taylor scraped a shot wide.

QPR’s victory was sealed in the 74th minute when Tommy Smith miscontrolled Hill’s ball over the top allowing sub Armand Traore to nip in behind him and slip the ball past Gerken to make it 3-0.

Taylor twisted and turned before shooting over in the 79th minute then, following good work from McGoldrick, Skuse hit a low effort which looked goalbound until striking Hunt.

Mings took over from Chambers for the final four minutes, hitting a low shot which was blocked moments after coming on. As the game moved into its final scheduled minute, Austin shot low to Gerken, who claimed.

The Blues pulled a goal back soon after the fourth official had raised his board. Sub Hunt whipped over a corner from the left and Smith spectacularly volleyed home his third goal of the season.

Town continued to push for an unlikely comeback, Hunt scuffing well wide, but referee Dowd’s whistle signalled the end of the Blues’ nine-game unbeaten run.

The home side had been the better team before the break but once QPR had got in front there was only going to be one winner.

Keeper Gerken will be disappointed not to have pushed Austin’s shot away from goal rather than into O’Neil’s path for QPR’s second and may think he might have got more on Kranjcar’s opener, although the Croatian international should have been closed down before hitting his strike, while Smith will hold his hand up for the error on Rangers’ third. His superbly taken late goal is likely to be scant consolation.

The travelling Fortuna fans continued to sing in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand long after the final whistle.

The result sees the Blues drop out of the play-off zone and into ninth ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup replay at Preston and next Saturday's visit to fourth-bottom Millwall.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (Mings 86), Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Hyam (Hunt 72), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Anderson (Nouble 72), McGoldrick, Taylor. Unused: Loach, Edwards, Tabb, Hunt, Lee, Nouble.

QPR: Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Barton (Henry 40), Carroll, Benayoun (Traore 68), O'Neil, Kranjcar (Phillips 85), Austin. Unused: Murphy, Onuoha, Wright-Phillips, Johnson. Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). Att: 18,369 (QPR: 1,534).

Photo: Action Images

ramseyn added 18:20 - Jan 11 Can't agree with the love for Taylor today. No end product for me, head down and charge, neither a shot or pass to finish, poor football brain. Danny Haynes born again.
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hancockingoal added 18:24 - Jan 11 To day was a real reality test and showed where we are. You could not fault the effort or commitment, we, out fought them in the first half but lacked the quality to take advantage. In fact a wonder save from Gerkin kept us in the game! Once they scored in the second half despite our best efforts we were never going to get a result. We are not quite good enough to be serious challengers. No need to be despondent but unless we are able to spend 'big' On quality we have to be satisfied with mid table with the occasional high!

13

TractorBoy666 added 18:26 - Jan 11 Felt we deserved something from the game today, the first half especially we were very good. Although we seem to never come out the second half? Taylor was superb today, at the heart of a lot of our attacking play. Maybe if we put one of our chances away in the first half it may have been a different result! I don't rate QPR as much as I do Leicester, and like others have said the result did flatter QPR. Millwall is a must win if we want to keep in touch with the top six and then hopefully we can get our home form back on track again! Still believing COYB

12

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:30 - Jan 11 Pip50 - why dont you go out for a drink with Blueboy, the pair of you would get on like a house on fire
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del45 added 18:33 - Jan 11 Good one half again but not scoreing must improve on this or will stay mid table mm must find a scoreing midfielder.
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blueboy1981 added 18:45 - Jan 11 Dozzells Bobblehat .... do you really have to ?? - give it a rest - just because someone disagrees with you, do you really have to be so pathetic ? Smell the Coffee as it is - instead of having 'digs' at people. All the evidence you need in the last couple of home games - for those who care to see it. Mid table at best. Anyone deluded - hit the minus button. Not how I like feeling on a Saturday night - I don't lose gracefully, and don't make excuses, more to the point.

6

StowTractorBoy added 18:46 - Jan 11 I know the run could not go on and on but after an excellent first half performance where we should have gone in front I thought we were disappointing in the second half. Taylor was a bright spark for us and worked his socks off and with a break in front of goal we could have gone in two goals up at the break. We just knew what would happen in the second half and our usual mean defence collapsed which did not help matters. If I have to find fault Chambers and Hyam were found wanting for the first goal and Gerken could have done better with the second and third. A shame as he made one fantastic save in the first half. I think today reflected the gulf between the Clubs both in playing strength and of course available funds. Bit down tonight as I hate us getting beaten but we were victims of our downfall today.

7

teddydale added 18:48 - Jan 11 Super frank!
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StowTractorBoy added 18:52 - Jan 11 Re my post sorry should read 1st and second goals re Gerks as Tommy clearly at fault for the 3rd. Roll on Preston and Millwall.
5

neillrumsey added 18:55 - Jan 11 Agree 3-1 does flatter QPR as we were the dominant force in the first half. At half time i was well pleased with the game as a spectacle both teams playing entertaining football with special praise for Hyam and Taylor the former doing well against a top player in Barton. Second half I'm sorry but for me this is us second half of most games. Players switched off allowing the quality of Kranjar time and space to pass the ball into the net. From then on it was backs to the wall and we paid the price for first half misses. Chambers again struggled at right back and Berra cannot distribute the ball. Anderson again a lightweight time for Edwards to return. Subs Nouble was again awful and Hunt doesnt look match fit. Right back creative midfiled and another striker please Marcus. MM is doing fantastic with no money but this team is mid table if we get injuries..

10

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:55 - Jan 11 blueboy- im afraid i do, i have been diagnosed as clinically sarcastic . Was that a dig ? More an observation i thought. " I don't lose gracefully" - you dont say !
2

DerryfromBury added 18:56 - Jan 11 I asked for 110% from everyone in a blue strip, and for most of the time we got it!! good load crowd for the majority of the game. Could have been 4 men of the match today, but think, Taylor just edged it, I'd like to see more of him starting games rather than coming on for 10-20mins as has been the case up until today. Would rather have seen Alan Lee come on instead of Frank Nouble. I know MM is very loyal to his players, but surely even he must see, for all his running around Frank's not championship material. At the risk of repeating everyone that's gone before, we more than matched them in the first half, they sussed us out, changed things during the break, stepped up a gear in the second half and the rest is history. Overall we didn't disgrace ourselves, just shows the void between the Premiership players (which, lets be honest most of QPR are) and Championship. COYB

12

runaround added 18:58 - Jan 11 I think 3-1 was a bit harsh on us but QPR taught us a lesson in finishing with 3 goals from 3 shots in the second half. QPR are set up to work hard & defend a lead once they get one, I don't know the stats but I suspect they have won the vast majority of games when they have scored first this season. They have premiership class throughout their squad & also they put in a shift for 90 minutes today with hard work as well as skill. If they fail to go up they only have themselves to blame. However for 50 minutes we more than matched them & played a lot better than in the last few games. But QPR ruthlessly took advantage of 3 defensive errors that few other championship teams would have done & once they were Ieading the result was never in doubt. Hyam & Taylor played well. We are in an important time now where we could fall away if we are not careful so as much as the Preston replay is unwanted, defeat to a lower league team will really damage confidence so I think we need a near full strength team out Tuesday, win that then look for 3 points at Millwall as 2 defeats may lead to a poor run. One last mention of the Fortuna fans who were brilliant before, during and after the match singing throughout & seeming to enjoy themselves. That is what being a football fan should be about, not the whinging and whining that many fans, not just Town fans, seem to do these days. If only all fans were like them it would be much more of a fun experience

15

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:59 - Jan 11 Derry - totally agree (blueboy - im not being sarcastic now )
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bluelady added 18:59 - Jan 11 Pip 50 what a bore you are and your comments themselves are totally inept and show a clear lack of footballing brain!! Thought Hyam was outstanding - what better way to face the critics? Skuse again showed his class and for much of first half we bossed midfield.. Not finishing off our chances cost us, Anderson very guilty of wasting guilt edge chances and for me not good enough... Proud of the boys today though despite a loss, we deserved more and never game up! Would just like to say QPR fans should be ashamed, bunch of thugs!

15

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:05 - Jan 11 Thankfully it seems 90% of posters tonight share in their opinions of todays performance, very sensible posts from the majority. To the minority , this doesnt mean we lack ambition or dont care it just means we have a rounded sensible view on matters.
6

ChrisMakin2012 added 19:06 - Jan 11 Hyam had his best game until MM substituted him,
2

blueboy1981 added 19:12 - Jan 11 Dozzelle's Bobblehat ............... you forgot a bit - 'I don't make excuses' - not being sarcastic either now !!
-2

StochesStotasBlewe added 19:13 - Jan 11 The gulf in class was evident once Q.P.R took the lead. First half, we matched them & played some decent football on the ground at times but not taking our chances proved costly. I can,t see us finishing top 6, the squad is not quite good enough, sure there is effort in abundance, no denying that but, we lack that quality required to be serious play off contenders. Over to you Mr Evans.

11

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:18 - Jan 11 blueboy32 - neither have any of us on here,most people have said that QPR were more clinical in a close match, and that we paid for our mistakes. You will never be happy until we lift the Premier League and Champions League will you ?
3

ITFCsince67 added 19:18 - Jan 11 Pip50. I agree with everything you wrote. We are long ball rubbish with a negative Manager. Simple as that.
-13

warktheline added 19:22 - Jan 11 Top eight finish for Town,I have no doubts about that.If we want top six money needs to be spent.Blame Mick's tactics if people want but he has got them playing well above themselves from the day he walked in at Portman Rd.Over to you Mr Evans.......the alternative is Mick pulls off 23 top deals on players for little or no money.
5

bluey123 added 19:22 - Jan 11 Just shows the difference of a chairman who believes in his club and Evans who is more interested in Brazil world cup
1

warktheline added 19:25 - Jan 11 Sorry 2-3 top deals.
0

Walk_the_Wark added 19:26 - Jan 11 Agree ITFC.Unfortunately I fear it will be some time before Mick goes, as he is picking up a better than average haul of points with his limited, negative tactics and playing style
2

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