Goals from Paul Furlong and Dan Shittu completed a miserable week for promotion-chasing Ipswich and claimed a deserved three points for QPR at Portman Road.

Town were leading the Championship going into their game at Preston last Friday, but two defeats and a draw in a week and they suddenly find themselves lying third.

Furlong scored his 16th goal of the season from Rangers' first attack, and Shittu powered home a header with 15 minutes remaining to wrap up the points.

Town rarely threatened, and on this evidence will struggle to maintain their title push.

Ipswich boss Joe Royle made one change to the side beaten 2-1 by Watford on Tuesday, Darren Currie replacing Ian Westlake.

QPR, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves at Loftus Road last time out, named an unchanged line-up.

The visitors took just four minutes to break the deadlock.

Striker Furlong collected the ball just inside the penalty area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to stun the home crowd.

Well-organised Rangers were dominating the early stages and were unlucky not to double their advantage when Furlong headed home at the far post, but the referee ruled the goal out for a push by the forward.

Kevin Gallen blazed over from close range, before Ipswich finally began to threaten.

Darren Bent sent a header over the crossbar, while Currie forced Simon Royce into a fine save with an angled volley shortly afterwards.

In-form midfielder Tommy Miller, who has scored two goals in his last two games, had the last chance of the half - flashing a shot well wide.

Royle must have been disappointed with Town's lacklustre first-half display, sending his players out five minutes before the restart.

It failed to have the desired impact, however, as the second half began quietly, with speculative long-range efforts from Martin Rowlands and then Adam Miller failing to trouble Kelvin Davis.

Rangers then dealt the killer blow as they extended their lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Pablo Counago brought down Lee Cook, and Rowlands' free-kick was thumped home by the head of defender Shittu - his third of the season.

Counago almost got Ipswich straight back into the game but he was denied by a superb save from Royce, and Rangers coasted to victory.

Teams

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth, Miller, Magilton (Counago 57), Horlock, Currie (Bowditch 72), Scowcroft (Westlake 57), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Price, Karbassiyoon.

Booked: De Vos, Scowcroft.

QPR: Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Rose (Miller 54), Edghill, Gallen, Rowlands, Santos, Bircham, Cook (Ainsworth 81), Furlong.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Padula, Cureton.

Booked: Edghill.

Goals: Furlong 4, Shittu 75.

Att: 29,008

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).