In a quiet opening to the match, QPR had the first effort at goal when Australian Massimo Luongo fired wide from the edge of the box.

Hemed then headed over for the visitors from Luke Freeman’s deep corner as Rangers began to apply some early pressure.

The opening goal came two minutes later when Freeman’s inswinging corner from the right was palmed into his own net by Gerken.

The hosts were struggling to find any rhythm with striker Freddie Sears isolated as the lone frontman, while Rangers looked dangerous on the counter attack.

The Blues missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the 36th minute when Grant Ward sliced his shot inside the box following Trevoh Chalobah’s driving run and cross.

In added time in the first half, another Freeman inswinger from the right caused problems and Eberechi Eze was brought down by Tota Nsiala in the box.

Hemed sent Gerken the wrong way from the resultant penalty to double Rangers’ lead.

The visitors immediately had a chance to increase their lead seconds after the break when Town skipper Luke Chambers gifted the ball to Eze but Gerken made a smart save to deny the QPR striker.

Ward then headed straight at visiting keeper Joe Lumley from Chalobah’s cross as the Blues looked for a way back into the game.

Ipswich substitutes Kayden Jackson and Jack Lankester almost made an immediate impact after coming on in the 66th minute when Jackson’s low-drilled cross was cleared just ahead of teenage debutant Lankester.

Impressive England Under-20 international Eze curled a left-footed effort against the crossbar in the 73rd minute as Rangers looked to kill the game off.

Rangers were able to see out the match comfortably in the latter stages and the final whistle brought boos from the home crowd.

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