A second away game in a row saw Rangers make the relatively short trip to Ipswich for a game the home side would have been expecting to win.

It was a good atmosphere among the QPR fans before the game who were in good spirits at the Station hotel before the game before one supporter decided to take it all too far and try to steal a bottle of wine from behind the bar. The result was the police came in and shut the bar spoiling the fun for everyone else and not exactly helping to give our supporters a good name.

Once inside the ground news filtered through that Akos Buzsacky was not playing which was disappointing to hear. Buzsacky picked up a slight knock last week and De Canio gave the player the weekend off to stay back in Hungry with his family which was a nice gesture. Martin Rowlands also missed out with a slight knock but he was among the subs. Damien Delaney was out through suspension so it was a much changed team to the one that drew at Wolves last weekend.

Damion Stewart came in for Delaney with Connolly moving to the unfamiliar role of left back. Gavin Mahon replaced Rowlands whilst Hogan Ephraim returned from suspension in place of Buzsacky.

The game started at with both sides trying to get the ball down and play which made for an entertaining afternoon.

Rangers had the first shot of the game but it didn’t cause any problems for the Ipswich defence after Mancienne broke forward and fired a shot well wide from outside the box.

Hogan Ephraim was looking lively after his break from the first team and he opened up the Ipswich defence with a nice cross but Agyemang couldn’t get his head on the ball.

At the other end it was hearts on mouth time as Ipswich broke away using the pace of Haynes who turned inside then outside to leave Hall trailing behind him and he smashed a shot past Camp but against the post. At the time I thought he miss hit it but seeing it again on television it was a cracking effort.

The game was very much end to end and Rangers went close to opening the scoring as Ephraim curled a free kick over the wall but wide of the post.

There was then a frantic two minutes where both sides really should have scored. First up a corner on the left was swung into the box for De Vos to meet and his header was on target but very well saved by Camp. Rangers then broke up field down the left with Vine walking the ball into the box and beating his man before crossing, his ball into the middle was blocked and felt o Ephraim who had an open goal but he somehow put it wide when it seemed easier to score. Ipswich then broke away and we were back in trouble as Danny Haynes again turned inside and beat his man but this time Camp was off his line quickly and saved well at Haynes feet.

The excitement continued as Camp was again called into action as a free kick was floated in and Haynes won the ball and shot from close range but Camp made an excellent low save. The ball fell to De Vos but he shot high over the bar from six yards out.

The game was switching from one end to the other with both sides playing really well and it was hard to imagine the game was going to stay goalless. Agyemang was holding the ball up well up front and went on a good run from his own half which ended with his winning a corner.

Ipswich had a good penalty shout right on half time when a ball into the box saw Mancienne shove Haynes over but the ref played on with Alan Lee unmarked at the far post but he placed his shot high over the bar.

The half time whistle was a bit of a relief for Rangers who were starting to look a little ragged in the closing minutes but all in all it had been a very exciting first half.

The second half started at a far slower pace with both sides looking like they were catching breath ahead of a big finish. The expected change for Rangers kick started the game again as Rowlands came on for Leigterwood. Straight away Rowlands won the ball in midfield and sprayed a lovely ball wide to Vine before bursting forward and to support the front two as Vine beat his man and crossed for Agyemang to head just wide of the post.

Ipswich were looking a bit desperate up front and the Rangers back four were coping far better with what was being thrown at them. We were looking dangerous on the attack without really testing their keeper enough.

Agyemang then won the ball in his own half and with lovely control he dragged the ball back past one then slipped past a second challenge before sprinting with the ball at his feet past two more challenges towards goal and then saw his shot deflect wide of the post. It was a great run from Agyemang and he was looking a real threat with his all round game vastly improved after some average recent performances.

Kieran Lee came on for Rowan Vine and looked very lively when he came on playing on both wings during his twenty minute spell on the pitch.

The final stage of the game saw it go back to behind end to end as Ipswich probably had the better chances. Camp had to be at his best to parry away a curling free kick from the edge of the box and after an excellent display he then went and dropped a simple looping ball into the box and Connolly had to be on hand to clear the danger.

The games controversial moment came in the last few minutes when Ipswich will rightly feel cheated. A Corner on the right evaded Camp and a close range header appeared to cross the line before being cleared by Connolly. They screamed for a goal but the linesmen kept his flag down. It looked very close but the Ipswich players will have been more upset by the fact that Connolly clearly cleared it with his hand. Rangers almost made it worse for Ipswich by going on a quick counterattack but Rowlands shot at the end of the break was comfortably saved by the keeper.

In the end Ipswich failed to find a way through and Rangers even had a late chance to win it when Blackstock went through one on one with the keeper but the referee blew his whistle before he could get his shot away (the keeper saved it anyway).

This was an entertaining match and a good point for Rangers against a side who don’t lose many at home. I think Charlton are the only side in the division to win at Portman Road this season although I could be wrong on that.

There were plenty of good performances. I opted for Agyemang as man of the match due to the big improvement in his performance. Lee Camp was also excellent though making several top saves and Matthew Connolly was very good in his new position at left back.

Martin Rowlands again did well when he came off the bench and added some life to the midfield. On the other side of the coin I thought for all Mancienne’s good defensive work his passing was atrocious and he gave the ball away far too many times in and around his own penalty area. Gavin Mahon also had a disappointing game and seemed off the pace and the two wide players didn’t really make the most of the space they were given.

In the end though this was a good point and another step towards a mid table finish.

Man of the Match: Patrick Agyemang

Players Ratings: Camp 7, Mancienne 6, Connolly 7, Hall 6, Stewart 6, Epharim 6 (Balanta 6), Mahon 5, Leigertwood 7 (Rowlands 7), Vine 6 (Lee 7), Blackstock 6, Agyemang 8