Rampant QPR put a huge dent into Ipswich Town's dreams of automatic promotion as they deservedly beat George Burley's side thanks to three second half goals at Loftus Road.

QPR had the better of the first half chances without grabbing the lead but within 18 seconds of the restart they were in front.

Richard Langley dispossessed Jamie Clapham before storming into the box to hit a blistering spot which Richard Wright did well to parry, but the ball sat up nicely for Gavin Peacock to head the rebound into the empty net.

On 58 minutes Rangers scored a vital second goal. Chris Kiwomya's attempted through ball caught under the feet of Tony Mowbray but the defender could only give it straight back again and this time Dutch striker Sammy Koejoe was able to run on and slot home his first Rangers goal.

The first half had been more like a cup tie than a league game but it was Rangers that coped better with the pace and they could have been in front in six minutes.

Mark Perry's clever ball to Kiwomya in the box saw the former Ipswich striker attempt to lob Wright, but the Town keeper saved brilliantly at full stretch.

Missing Marcus Stewart, Ipswich looked to David Johnson to provide the fire power but it was to be a frustrating day for the diminutive striker.

He had two chances in a minute in the first half being denied by Karl Reddy's timely tackle and then Ian Baraclough's block while he also fired over the top when well placed on four more occasions.

After Rangers' two-goal blast Ipswich threw everything forward to try and get back into the game but they were incredibly denied on 73 minutes.

Clapham's cross saw Lee Harper spill the ball under pressure from Johnson and Richard Naylor but with the keeper on the floor the strikers couldn't force the ball over the line as Baraclough hacked the ball away.

On 79 minutes they were finally gifted a lifeline. Langley fouled Jim Magilton in the box and he got up to slot home a penalty himself.

That led to a real grandstand finish as Ipswich battled for an unlikely point.

Mowbray had two efforts cleared off the line by Chris Plumber and then Langley while Matt Holland's close range header was aimed straight at Harper.

At the other end Peacock volleyed Koejoe's cross just wide while Stuart Wardley should have done better than shoot wide when unmarked in the box.

Still the visitors came forward but it was not to be and after Holland's injury time cross had been missed by everyone, Rangers sprinted up the other end to score a third when Kevin Gallen's cross to the unmarked Kiwomya saw him sweep the ball into the net.

There was still time for a Johnson header to be brilliantly pushed onto the post by Harper but it looks now like another trip to the play-offs for George Burley's men.

Teams:

QPR: Harper, Perry, Ready, Plummer, Baraclough, Bruce (Kulcsar 74), Wardley, Langley, Peacock, Koejoe (Gallen 74), Kiwomya.

Subs Not Used: Murray, Scully, Rowland.

Goals: Peacock 46, Koejoe 58, Kiwomya 90.

Ipswich: R. Wright, Croft (Reuser 45), Wilnis, Mowbray, Brown, Clapham, J. Wright (Naylor 69), Holland, Magilton, Johnson, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Stockwell, Venus.

Goals: Magilton 79 pen.

Att: 14,920

Ref: M Brandwood (Lichfield).