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

StochesStotasBlewe added 23:12 - Jan 11 blues1. Blueboy does post positives/praise when it is relevant, as do many of us but, we also don,t see things through blue tinted specs like many on here seem happy to do. Today has proved that our squad is very short on the quality required to challenge the top 6 seriously this season, this is not being negative, it is fact. If Evans is serious about premier league football, he must sensibly back MM to aquire the talent we lack, if not, I,m afraid it will be mid table at best.

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Jimmy86 added 23:22 - Jan 11 pinewoodblue you've hit the nail right on the head. Our 9 game unbeaten run was great and put us in the play off places, but the amount of draws we have been having, when in winning positions started ringing alarm bells. Disappointed to lose the game today, but with the squad that QPR has they should really be where Leicester are and should have walked the league this season. by sounds of it we gave them a good run for their money but didn't take our chances, whereas they did, again a difference in quality. We really need a few quality signings to help us crack the top 6. ME get your cheque book out

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tractorboyz82 added 23:32 - Jan 11 Three mistakes punished that's what happens in the prem and happened today we don't punish teams enough for me Anderson is worse than lee Martin and jet not even going to say a thing about nouble having to put Alan lee on the bench says it all about are squad we are three first team players away from being in with a chance of a top six finish if the team stays the same it's not going to be a good second half of the season.mcgoldrick is class he is miles ahead of everyone in blue every game.hyam skuse Anderson tunners smith chambers Berra cresswell all defensive Taylor mcgoldrick only attacking flair players in the squad

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tractorboyz82 added 23:43 - Jan 11 Correct me if I'm wrong but hasn't tommy smith got more goals than the whole of are midfield put together could some point that out to mick because that is shocking
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blues1 added 00:11 - Jan 12 yes, over 40 years. and if you read my post correctly, I said that maybe u weren't there and if u were then u clearly saw a differentgame to most who were there. and no, of course none of us are happy that we lost, but atg least there was some football to enjoy today. unlike, as you correctly said. there certainly wasn't against preston. and it has to be said, in many home games this season.

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blues1 added 00:23 - Jan 12 oh, and I wasn't casting aspersions neither, the specsavers comment. if that what you going on about was just a lighthearted comment used by many in many situations. so sorry if you took that the wrong way. pinewoodblueboy. nothing wrong with putting a negative post if its warranted. I don't believe today warrants ne such posts. yes, as you say, today did show a few deficiencies in our squad, but then, most of us knew that before todays game. our position in the table has in no way hidden the fact that our squad isnt good enough to be in the top six, all today did was to show that for sure. while its disappointing to have lost, there were some good things that came from our performance yet so many who post on here(not all). concentrate purely on the negatives.and no, not looking thru rosetinted spectacles as you put it. just posting the positive side as well as the negative.

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Keaneish added 00:52 - Jan 12 In Japan at the moment so haven't been to the games for a while. How did Anderson play today? Thought he may have had a bit more impact given a more attacking role but haven't heard anyone mention him. Disappointed the unbeaten run has come to an end, especially at home but never mind. Time to start up another.
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blue_moon09 added 02:19 - Jan 12 I have enjoyed watching all of towns home and away games this season, today was an unfair result. This Season has been much improved remember the Keane & Jewell era?? Those that bother to go to games would have noticed an improvement in league position, better football being played and the clubs policy in recruiting and developing permanent players rather than loan signings which was a joke in previous regimes . What I don't get is the negative comments on here from stay away armchair fans that make stupid comments evertyime the town lose....Get behind the team win lose or draw, were not too far away from being promotion contenders it's a pity your not there to watch it...you mugs

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battyblue added 07:25 - Jan 12 I thought Paul Taylor had a good game but his brain seems to be working faster than a lot of his team mates (mainly midfield) and places passes into positions where they should be moving to but they are holding back rather than pushing on towards the oppositions penalty area so he got frustrated second half and went it alone to get the best out of him we need a midfield who can read his mind and respond then the extra goals will come that we are not scoring and we may make top six again .

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hogster1970 added 08:13 - Jan 12 battyblue you are spot on there, taylor had a great game to day, how ever half our problem is that alot of the team is atleast a second or two to slow on were to run and were to place that pass, but today apart from this it was a good display and performance against a prem class team, well most of them any how, atleast we played with all guns blazing rather than rolling over with a wimper, hyam had a great game mostly, infact most did, but we do need the additions to the squad though,

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bluelady added 08:13 - Jan 12 A right back, proper winger and Murphy type striker (who can win balls in the air unlike Nouble) and we have a chance, anything less and we will end the season saying how well MM did with limited resources and nothing more.. The critics who totally slate MM and his team and appear when we draw or loose are about as frustrating as our current situation. Yesterday I didn't wear blue tinted specs however I was proud of our performance and some great football, tactically MM got it right, in other recent home games I have been thoroughly disappointed with abject performances and the odd tactical fopar by big Mick. On the negative note - Nouble is frankly won't of the worse players I have ever seen in a town shirt. Anderson you can see has a player in there somewhere he just seems to lack confidence I feel.. He has some pace so with an end product could be useful.. Taylor looked excellent today and agree with previous poster sometimes one step ahead of his teammates which resulted in a way wood pass or too.

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Jimmy86 added 09:34 - Jan 12 Ahh the now famous response from blue moon09, change the record, coz your boring. Ive missed the last 2 home games coz of work, but im a season ticket holder. Does fact ive missed 2 games due to work make me an armchair fan?? Dont think so. Only one mug and thats you!!!!
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brittaniaman added 09:45 - Jan 12 We played far better today than of recent times but lost !!!! to think all those draws of late if only a couple of those could have been could have been wins we would still have been sitting nicely in the top 6 ?? Any way we face the new Manager Syndrome AGAIN next Sat. at Millwall ??? how this has happened to us this season is unbelievable ???
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BlueSwede added 10:02 - Jan 12 Promissed Seasider I would come back today with my thoughts on the game as we finaly got to see one here on Swedish television. Thought we played very well and QPR can count themselves lucky to have come away with any points at all. But I'd rather have us play like crap and get three points. I know there will be some - or maybe a lot - of the fans here that don't agree with me, but I would rather have seen us hoof long balls up the field for 90 minutes (see how QPR scored their third) and win 1-0 than play as well as we did and lose 3-1. It was a solid teamperformance where a few individual errors were punished, not only in defence, but in offence as well, and I also know that there well be some - or maybe a lot - of the fans here that don't agree with me on this either, but I feel Taylor, energetic and involved as he was, was too eager to show his worth after not playing that much and wasted a couple of good opportunities by trying to go on his own instead of playing the ball to his teammates in better positions. Thought Hyam and Scuse played well in midfield and can understand why MM continues to play them, but as some here have said, we need to be sharper in attack and would love to see some defensive cover, a tricky, attacking winger and a real goalmachine up front in the Januarywindow. But then, who wouldn't...

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Cloddyseedbed added 10:03 - Jan 12 I agree bluelady, right back, proper winger with a cross in him and some speed and a striker that can be a target man, win headers and hold the ball up. As for Nouble, he is taking the place of a better footballer that is out there somewhere, surely. You can clearly see why we got him for £25,000. We were absolutely robbed! Hyam deserves praise today, whether he reads TWTD's or not- I'm sure he does. He faced the right way today and was much more positive in his play. Taylor did look up for it today, well done to him too.

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greenkingtone added 10:15 - Jan 12 Scuzzer: Thank you for mentioning the lino. He got one corner decision right with a prompt flag, but from the south stand upper, the first goal looked offside. The problem linesmen have is noting the instant when the ball is played and at the same time seeing where the attacking players are at that instant. He has to decide whether or not the offside player is interfering with play. One view was that he is always interfering, but these days the flag is delayed until the offside player eventually gets the ball. In this interval a defender might play the ball and the player is not given offside. Gerken was looking towards the lino when the goal was given and he might have had his doubts. Running the line is an awful job by the way, and modern play is so fast, it is hard to always keep level with the last outfield player. Yesterday was a harsh result.

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TimmyH added 10:24 - Jan 12 Interesting to note our goal and best other chance came from defenders...just saying. Midfield is bar far the weakest area of this team.
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jas0999 added 10:29 - Jan 12 Thought the first half performance was the best we have been all season. Both teams played well, but thought we edged it. Difference was QPR played much the same in the second half, whilst our performance somewhat frustratingly tailed off. The two benches summed things up perfectly today. They had players who were worth or have been worth millions, we had Nouble and Lee. No disgrace in this loss, thought the scoreline was harsh. However, our lack of squad depth is a concern in comparison to most in the top 12. It's decision time for ME. Mick has worked wonders so far, but to push on we need just one or two additions. Will Evans back the manager or is he happy with mid-table? Not dwn hearted after yesterday though. Ave played worse and won.

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BillBlue added 10:49 - Jan 12 AS the dust is beginning to settle I now have a fairly good idea of what went on yesterday. I must thank Blues1 for his endless posts which generated some excellent responses from such people as Pinewood, Jimmy, etc. which got to the kernel and revealed the truth to me. Thank you too Batty for your detail on Taylor because I have been unable to understand the total mixture of posts about him in recent weeks, now I do. I am one of those who is in total agreement with Pip and BlueBoy81 but my say is unimportant to you because I can no longer attend matches and having despatched Sky to Hell, where it belongs, I am now totally reliant on you folks and wonderful TWTD. I always enjoyed your posts BlueLady and it is good to see you back but I don't neccessarily always agree with you particularly when wearing your blue glasses but your last post above was as good as I had come to expect from you. In a friendly way I would point out that it is 'Faux Pas' (it's French) and 'wayward' (which is English) in the nicest possible way that is.

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ChrisFelix added 11:56 - Jan 12 Although disappointed today when i think back to the teams Keane & Jewell left & importantly the money they wasted we have come along way. This was always going to be a difficult game & a draw was going to be a good result at half time. What disappoints me is not losing this game but dropping the points at home to Barnsley Watford & Charlton
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thebeat added 12:17 - Jan 12 blues1 yes i was at the game yesterday like im at all home games and some away. Dont care what you say Anderson was garbage again, its obvious to anyone who knows anything about football that he is out of his depth. In his so called favoured attacking role as opposed to the defensive narrow role hes been whinging about playing he didnt actually do any attacking. He broke away first half and was clean thru but was like a rabbit in the headlights and totally fluffed it. Apart from that he didnt get past his fullback once,didnt put 1 decent cross in and the game passed him by as it always does. Hunt or Edwards are so much better than him but he seems to get picked simply to justify the JET swap. In the SBR lower i never hear a goid word about him. Its nothing personal i just want the best players out on the pitch and he's simply not good enough. We were great yesterday apart from him and its the same story game after game. He's not going to get any better he is what he is i.e. out of his depth

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blueboy1981 added 12:19 - Jan 12 BillBlue - Really sorry you cannot now attend matches, your say is, and always will be, important and respected so please keep posting. I share your views of Sky to a large degree, but they tell us it is all about PROGRESS - my Grandfather once told me (god bless him) that the true definition of progress is one step forward and two back - the more I see of life the more I tend to agree with him. Thanks for your comments on all things ITFC - keep the faith - who knows one day the glory days may return - lets hope so anyway. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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Elizabeth added 12:36 - Jan 12 All successful teams have a quality midfield and quite honestly we are lacking in that department at the moment! We also miss Daryl Murphy who adds a different dimension to the team when he is playing! I'm hoping we can bring in at least two players in this transfer window to give us a realistic chance of the playoffs, otherwise I fear it will be another " wasted season" in this dire division.

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blueboy1981 added 12:38 - Jan 12 blue moon09 - ..... really impressed with your loyalty, but you really are the typical example of 'the forever satisfied brigade' - you just cannot accept anything negative about anything / anyone associated with the Club. Of course, we have made progress - but that's the objective - to do what has been done, continue with it, and continuously move forward. Just because someone thinks differently to you - why do you have to be abusive ?? - all it does is prove you've lost the plot before you start. Take a tip - occasionally see thinks other than thro' those 'blue tinted specs'. You may feel much better for it.

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blueboy1981 added 12:39 - Jan 12 ...... should read 'things' ..
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