After last Saturday’s frustrating scoreless draw at Hull, Queens Park Rangers opened the home half of their 2005-2006 Coca Cola Championship campaign with a convincing 2-1 victory this evening at Loftus Road.

Kevin Gallen (above) and Martin Rowlands each scored for the R’s towards the end of the first half, the latter being the recipient of an excellent cross from Gareth Ainsworth. Ipswich defender Mark Fish, just arrived from Charlton Athletic on loan, collided with QPR’s Paul Furlong moments earlier, and did not return after the intermission.

Town’s Sam Parkin, most recently Swindon’s most coveted weapon, kept things interesting with a blast past Simon Royce after leaving Rangers’ Georges Santos flat-footed.

Your correspondent’s early stroll through White City Estates was marred by the sight of 4 burly white guys chasing a very scared looking black man through the courtyard. Local police seemed less than alarmed. Perhaps if the black gentlemen had been wearing a backpack and/or oversized coat, the Old Bill might’ve given a hoot.