Second half substitute Marc Nygaard came off the bench to salvage a point for the R's against mid-table Ipswich Town.

The Danish striker, returning after a two month lay-off with a calf injury, bagged his first goal of the season in the 72nd minute at a sun drenched Loftus Road.

Earlier, Sylvan Legwinski put the Tractor Boys in front, when he smashed an unstoppable volley past Lee Camp from fully 22-yards.

After Nygaard made it 1-1, Rangers went in search of winner.

Adam Bolder saw his vocal appeals for a spot-kick turned down, while the hardworking Rowan Vine pulled a volley inches wide of Neil Alexander's right hand post, as the R's finished on top.

R's Caretaker Manager Mick Harford welcomed Michael Mancienne back to the starting XI for the visit of Jim Magilton's men.

The Chelsea loanee, returning from a six-week lay-off with a back / hamstring injury, replaced Ben Sahar in the only change to the side that won 1-0 against Norwich City ten days ago.

Ipswich boss Magilton made a solitary change too, with Sylvan Legwinski replacing Pablo Counago, who dropped to the bench.

Lone front-man Alan Lee's movement was causing Rangers problems early on and when his third minute cross was met on the run by Billy Clarke, Lee Camp was perfectly positioned to gather the midfielder's goal-bound effort with ease.

The R's responded in kind though, with livewire Hogan Ephraim's right sided cross narrowly evading the on-rushing Martin Rowlands at the far post.

Mikele Leigertwood created the next opportunity in the ninth minute, sending a looping cross to the far post, which Gareth Ainsworth headed straight into the arms of Neil Alexander.

Vine was proving a constant menace to the Ipswich back four and when he left three Town players in his wake with a mesmerising run, Alexander scrambled full stretch across his goal, as the R's striker's powerful 22-yard drive flashed inches wide of his left hand post.

Shots from distance seemed to be the order of the day in the first period, with Ainsworth and Rowlands each trying their luck from range as the half approached its midway point.

Leigertwood was impressive breaking from the centre of the park and when Mancienne sent him clean through down the right flank, his cross-come-shot squirmed wide of the far post.

Seconds later, Vine played provider for Rowlands, who took one touch to cut back inside on his right foot, before drilling a low 12-yard effort, which Alexander grasped, albeit at the second attempt.

In an end-to-end passage of play, Town substitute Gary Roberts, who just moments earlier replaced knee injury victim Tommy Miller, sent a low enticing drive across goal, which the onrushing Lee just failed to connect with.

As the sun continued to beat down on Loftus Road, it was the Tractor Boys who began the second half on the front foot.

In the 50th minute, Martin Cranie was in the right place at the right time to boot Billy Clarke's shot off the line, after the attacking midfielder met Jon Walters' back post cross.

Rangers failed to heed the warning though and they paid the ultimate price moments later.

There appeared to be little danger on when the ball fell at the feet of the midfielder 22-yards from goal, but he duly let fly, sending an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net, which gave Camp absolutely no chance.

With Mancienne struggling after a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Harford introduced Nygaard to the fray in the 55th minute.

The Dane's presence ruffled a few feathers in the Ipswich back four, and when he arrived onto meet Ainsworth's 60th minute cross, his header flew three yards over.

At the other end, Clarke nudged Lee's pull-back from the by-line inches wide of Camp's left hand post, as Rangers gifted the attacker the freedom of the six-yard box.

Undeterred, the R's were on terms in the 72nd minute, thanks to that man Nygaard.

Ephraim's deflected through ball split the Ipswich back four in two and the Danish front-man arrived bang on cue to send a fearsome 12-yard strike past the startled Alexander.

After Cranie's last-ditch tackle denied Lee a free shot on goal, Ipswich should have been ahead again four minutes later, only for the otherwise outstanding De Vos to inexplicably head wide from the edge of the six-yard box, with the goal at his mercy.

From their very next attack, Lee was denied again, this time by Rowlands, who cleared his header off the line, after Camp failed to deal with yet another Ipswich set-piece.

Rangers had vocal appeals for a penalty waved away eight minutes from time, when Adam Bolder appeared to be dragged to ground after playing a neat one-two with Vine.

Referee Mr Swarbrick had a fantastic view of the incident, only to discard the R's skippers' vocal appeals.

With the R's faithful in full voice, Ephraim fizzed a ball into the path of Vine, whose volley on the turn flew inches wide of the far post, with Alexander rooted to the spot.

Despite finishing in the ascendancy, Rangers were indebted to Camp for keeping them on terms in the dying stages, when he dived full stretch to tip Danny Haynes' downward header to safety.

QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Mancienne (Nygaard 55), Bolder, Ainsworth (Moore 68), Rowlands, Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood, Cranie.

Subs: Cole, Bignot, Jarrett.

Goals: Nygaard 72

Bookings: Vine 73

Ipswich Town: Alexander, Wilnis, De Vos, Garvan, Legwinski, Miller (Roberts 31), Lee (Counago 85), Walters, Wright, Harding, Clarke (Haynes 80).

Subs: Supple, Bruce.

Goals: Legwinski 52

Attendance: 13, 946