A second half blitz earned impressive Ipswich all three points at Loftus Road this afternoon.

After Town had taken a 25^th minute lead, two stunning strikes in the space of three minutes from Paul Furlong had sent Loftus Road wild.

But Town's undoubted quality told in the second period and although two of their three goals after the break took decisive deflections, the visitors had a little too much for Ian Holloway's team and it is clear why they are amongst the promotion favourites.

Rangers stuck to their task and worked tirelessly throughout the game, but they came up against a team who have eyes on the Premiership and sides such as these are the benchmark for QPR's progress in this highly competitive division.

A foot injury kept Lee Cook on the sidelines, but Marc Bircham returned to the staring line-up after recovering from a bout of the 'flu last weekend.

Adam Miller retained his place in the starting eleven and Martin Rowlands took up a place on the bench as he played his first part in the squad since fracturing his metatarsal against Burnley in October.

Ipswich meanwhile named an unchanged side to that which drew 2-2 with Crewe a week previously.

Joe Royle's men started out brightly, testing Chris Day in the fourth minute when Ian Westlake tripped his way onto the ball on the edge of the box and dug his shot out, only for it to be thwarted by Day.

Tommy Miller then had a golden opportunity to put Ipswich ahead. In his attempt to clear, former Ipswich man Georges Santos headed the ball into the path of Miller who didn't need any more invitation than that to have a crack.

His right foot strike fizzed its way towards goal, but once again Day was alert to palm the ball to safety.

Day continued to prove his worth when he made his third spectacular save. Ian Westlake sent the ball into the box from the left wing and with Darren Bent waiting, he sent the ball straight onto his head.

Nodding the ball goalwards, Bent could only look on in despair as Day tipped the ball over the bar to give Rangers yet another let off.

Rangers ten mounted their first real goal threat on 19 minutes. Adam Miller whipped in the free kick from the left flank and Dan Shittu flew at the ball at the near post, but narrowly failed to make contact.

Bent tried his luck minutes later when he attempted to hook the ball into the back of the net, but who should be there again, but Day, who plucked the ball from the air. by now, he must have been starting to infuriate the Ipswich men.

So Ipswich got angry and got the goal that they more than deserved for their efforts. Bent hooked the ball across the face of goal, Shefki Kuqi headed the ball into the path of Jason DeVos who nodded the ball home.

A scrappy goal and nothing compared to Paul Furlong's brilliant equaliser two minutes later.

Racing on to a defensive clearance, Rangers' leading marksman let fly from 25 yards out, unleashing an unstoppable low drive into the bottom right hand corner.

The Ipswich faithful were stunned, but nothing could have prepared them for a repeat dose only another three minutes later.

The strike from 20 yards out was just as fierce, and although Kelvin Davis got a hand to it, he couldn't prevent the ball nestling into the other corner.

Two of the finest goals you could wish to see, arriving in the space of two minutes from the same player.

In an attempt not to be outdone, Adam Miller turned his hand to a spot of long range shooting, teeing himself up before hammering the ball between the sticks, but this time, Davis wasn't going to be caught out and got down to gather the strike.

Six minutes before half time, excellent interplay between Miller and Santos on the left hand side saw the former Aldershot man whip in a cross to Kevin Gallen who had peeled away from his marker. The ball was slightly behind him, but he unleashed a first time shot that arrowed only narrowly wide.

The start of the second half saw Ipswich come racing out of the traps when Bent brought the ball down beautifully onto his boot and struck fiercely from the edge of the box.

Thankfully, his shot whistled past the far post and Rangers held on to their lead.

Not long after that, Ipswich got back into the game. Kuqi headed the ball down for Bent who was just yards from goal and his deflected shot bounced past Day and into the back of the net.

Minutes later and play swung to the other end. Gareth Ainsworth raced into the box and was tackled by Wilnis but the ball fell kindly for Gallen. His shot was parried by Davis and the ball was scrambled behind for a corner.

Then on 72 minutes, Darren Currie on his debut for Ipswich, came back to haunt Rangers again after scoring for Brighton against the Rs earlier in the season.

Picking up the ball 20 yards from goal, Currie, who had only just come off the bench, let fly and another wicked deflection did for the luckless Day once again.

Ian Holloway then shuffled his pack, sending on Jamie Cureton for Ainsworth and Martin Rowlands for Marcus Bean.

But it would be Ipswich who enjoyed the game's decisive moment a few minutes later. Kuqi, who had been quiet for most of the afternoon, hooked the ball home after a cross from the right to give the visitors clear daylight.

As the clock ticked down, Ipswich continued to threaten in front of goal and Currie again went close when his dipping shot was tipped over by Day.

The final five minutes saw Rangers continue to press, but this game was by now way out of sight.

Rangers will no doubt be disheartened after having led at one point, but were once again able to measure themselves up against former Premiership men.

The three points may have gone back to Portman Road, but it will be Rangers who came away richer in the experience of what is needed to cut it at this level while Holloway's men continue to find their feet.

Rangers: Day, Bignot, Padula, Shittu, Bircham (McLeod 85), Gallen, Ainsworth (Cureton 75), Bean (Rowlands 75), Miller, Santos, Furlong

Subs: Cole, Branco

Scorers: Furlong 27, 30

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, DeVos, Diallo (Richards 45), Naylor, Magilton, Miller, Horlock (Currie 54), Bent, Kuqi, Westlake

Subs: Supple, Counago, Bowditch

Scorers: DeVos 25, Bent 58, Currie 72, Kuqi 76

Bookings: Horlock

Att: 18,231

Referee: C Boyeson