The inclusion of 17 year old Billy Clarke was a welcome positive talking point before the match. Part of the FA Youth Cup winning side last season, the young striker along with many of his team mates had been much talked about and touted as the possible solution to our newly found dullness, and it certainly worked.

Although deep down you knew that his chance in the starting line up was only given through the mounting injury list, some credit had to go Joe's way for putting faith in him. He was obviously pacey, and despite being dwarfed in every dimension by the QPR defence, was managing to hold his own and cause problems from the off.

QPR physical side, and they seem to make use of their muscle every time we meet them (although I'm sure they're the same whoever they play). The first sign of QPR's tactics for the afternoon came early on when Lewis Price shepherded a ball away for a goal kick. Paul Furlong, league-leader in the bad discipline tables, went in heavy and as he skipped over the prone keeper, he appeared to stamp on his head. The resulting injury required bandaging and Price was down for 2 or 3 minutes (although only 2 minutes were added at the end of the half - anyone else notice that?). The Ref, who proved to be gutless, witless and useless on this afternoon's performance, merely produced a yellow card. It was one of those clear cut, if he did it, he's off, if he didn't (or if the ref didn't see it) then no booking situations. Yellow. sigh...

We caused QPR problems, and actually passed the ball well, right through the midfield, out wide and into the danger area. At one point, we had 4 corners in close succession, forcing QPR goalie Royce into some fine saves, at last one point blank on the line, another was cleared by a defender on the line. In short, we were in control.

Then they scored. They broke away down the right, a quick cross was snapped in and the ball headed home. It was a fine goal for sure, but is there really no justice?! The defence, as usual, could've done a lot better, but were catching some Zzzz's.

The crowd maintained what had been a decent atmosphere, and urged Town on, and the equaliser came just minutes later via a Darren Currie corner. Jason de Vos powerfully headed goalwards at the near post. Right then, scare over, let's finish them off this time.

Then they scored. Another break away before half time, again down the right, and another poorly defended cross was bundled home beyond some comical defenders by none other than Paul Furlong. "He shouldn't even be on the pitch" was the phrase of the moment at half time.

Half time restarted minus the tricky Billy Clarke, and many moans were heard on the subject. He had been one of our better players, and although I suspect Joe would argue that he wasn't big enough for their defence, well, they hadn't grown to that height during the first half, and he hadn't shrunk. Richard Naylor went up front, Matt Richards fell back and Fabian Wilnis pushed in.

We seemed to lose an edge, and the excitement ebbed out of the game, although that was also down to a very obvious playing-for-time tactic from the visitors.

It wasn't our worst half, but the spark had gone and we reverted to recent type. Jim Magilton came on midway, and this improved things, but the saviour was to be in the form of another Youth Team product, Danny Haynes. He played the last ten minutes out wide on the right and looked keen to run at the defence - just what the doctor ordered.

The crowd rose with his enthusiasm and after an early scare when he gave a dangerous ball away in midfield, he created a few openings. All looked inevitably lost though as the game wore on, but as the 4th official indicated 4 minutes of added time the crowd roared the Tractor Boys on and they lifted there game (at which point I usually mutter something along the lines of "why don't they play like this all game").

With just a minute left, Jim spotted young Haynes darting through the middle and chipped through a ball which he headed exquisitely past the keeper and inside the near post. He did some mad dance thing and the crowd lapped it up, a fitting full stop to his debut, and a great advert for the Youth Team.

We need a bit more of that spark, and perhaps not waiting for injuries before exercising the youngsters is the order of the day.

I'd have honestly taken a draw before this one, not that I was that fearful of the perpetual draw specialists coming to Town, but having seen us play dreadfully in the last few games and knowing that Wolves could play ok given the opportunity, and also because of our swelling list of absentees.

Town proved anything but pushovers today though, and in the end were unlucky not to send Wanderers packing with nowt. Nicky Forster and Dean Bowditch started in the long term absence of Sam Parkin, and were joined by Darren Currie in the 4-3-3 formation.

It seemed to work from the off, we were bright and pacey, if a little untidy, but were having a good go at Wolves and Currie was soon creating chances. The visiting goalie, Postma, was being kept busy and was soon proving that he was a quality shot stopper. His kicking left something to be desired though.

Good stuff, but we were not keeping the Wolves at bay at the other end, and the right-sided Seol was very lively, showing great control and not being afraid to hold posession. I was less than impressed with Tom Huddlestone who I thought would be better than this showing.

No goals at the break, but surely we'd sew this one up in the second half? Well, things didn't quite go that way, and although we started in the same vein, Wolves managed a really cakey opener.

Colin Cameron hit a more than hopeful shot from way out, and on it's way it diverted upwards via the foot of Jason De Vos and looped over Lewis Price into the net.

It roused the home support though, who sensed the injustice in the goal, and Town pressed on. It was only ten minutes or so before the equaliser, which came from the penalty spot. The kick was perhaps a little unfair with Forster perhaps brought down in the course of a perfectly good challenge - couldn't see from where I was, but they all count.

Shortly before the goal, Adam Proudlock had replaced Dean Bowditch much to the dismay of the crowd, Deano having a lively enough game. Proudlock though was obviously out to play for his place and got stuck in where asked and was pretty useful.

Late on, we though all was lost as Seol was found completely unmarke in the Town 6-yard box, and with the ball at his feet would surely lash it home. Lash it he did, but right over the bar as the hapless Lewis Price dived hopefully in front of goal. A shame (but not really obviously) as he'd had a superb game causing many problems on their right.

A far better performance today against a side perhaps capable of offering a sterner test. I thought the whole team showed greater attitude throughout, but still plenty of room for improvement.