QPR 1 Ipswich 1

There's not a lot to say about this one ; basically Rangers eked out a point against an Ipswich team with "mid-table" stamped through them like a stick of rock. The hosts shaded the first half without creating a great deal, Martin Rowlands might have struck first time from 12 yards but turned back inside and could only roll a tame shot into the keeper's arms, and Mikele Leigertwood's excellent break came to nothing as his driven low cross evaded everyone. Ipswich only had a brief spell of pressure just before the break, with Martin Cranie different class again for Rangers at the back.

Unfortunately, Rangers started slowly in the second half yet again, and when Sylvain Legwinski was given time to bring the ball down 25 yards out he fired an excellent volley into the roof of the net. From here on in Ipswich were much the better team, and should have added at least one more through Billy Clarke and Jason de Vos, both from point-blank range. While I could see no way back at all, the mystic Camel came up trumps again. Within two minutes of his "feeling" that "we'll get a point", Marc Nygaard of all people tucked a neat finish inside the near post from 10 yards out.

Despite the boost of the goal Rangers could only muster a scuffed volley wide from Rowan Vine and a half-hearted penalty shout, and were indebted to Lee Camp who pulled out a top-drawer save to deny Danny Haynes. Rangers look a lot more solid at the back with Cranie but the lack of creativity is still a worry. We'll just have to keep plugging away until Blackstock and/or Nardiello come back, till January at least.