Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club

Ipswich Town 1 Queens Park Rangers 4

DAVID JOHNSON, Ipswich's leading scorer this season who pulled out of the Welsh European Championship squad against Switzerland last week because of injury, could be set for a surprise call-up for Scotland's play-off tie with England next month.

Craig Brown, the Scotland team manager, watched Johnson in this match at Portman Road on Saturday before he was withdrawn after 79 minutes because of a knee injury.

Johnson has played for England B and Jamaica, but is still not fully committed to any country. And as he holds a British passport he can still play for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

George Burley, the Ipswich manager, said: "I think David has done well enough at the club to be involved with the Scottish squad. It is up to Craig to decide on that, but David hasn't done himself any harm today."

After their club record-breaking start to the season, Ipswich have fallen on hard times. Leading the division from the first day, they were unbeaten in their opening six matches, but have had only one win in their last five outings.

Gary Croft, an £800,000 signing from Blackburn Rovers last month, returned to the Ipswich line-up after being arrested for driving charges a fortnight ago. His presence did little to lift the gloom at Portman Road as Ipswich again pushed the self-destruct button in this comprehensive home defeat.

Ipswich's senior professional, Jim Magilton, received the second dismissal of his career after he appeared to kick Gavin Peacock while the QPR skipper was grounded.

Magilton's actions sparked a 20-man melee in the middle of the pitch and it took the referee, Paul Danson, several minutes to restore order before showing the red card.

Gerry Francis, whose team recorded their first away win of the season, said: "I don't think anyone can have any arguments about the decision."

After that Ipswich capitulated and even a change of formation after the break could not stop the rot. QPR's impressive youngsters - Stuart Wardley and Richard Langley - ran rings round the Ipswich midfield and their team were rewarded with a result which elevates them into the top half of the division.

Matt Holland, the Ipswich captain, had given the home side the lead after three minutes, but Peacock equalised on the half-hour.

Wardley nosed Rangers in front 20 minutes after the break and two goals from Rob Steiner, the former Bradford striker, inflicted on Ipswich their worst home defeat since they lost 5-1 to Charlton in September 1996.

Daily Telegraph