GUS UHLENBEEK thought that blonds had more fun; the presumption cost him his place in Ipswich's forward line. The Surinam-born Dutchman responded by having his head shaved and now Ipswich are knocking on the play-off door.

In the first game of season Uhlenbeek emerged with peroxide blond-died hair. Manager George Burley took exception - and the player had to wait a month before he started again.

A return visit to the barbers assured Burley of Uhlenbeek's commitment; against Queens Park Rangers, a team woefully short in every department, he was the architect of another impressive victory.

Ipswich won 2-0 but could have eclipsed their previous home win, the 5-0 beating of WBA. Add recent wins over Barnsley, Crystal Palace and Bolton, and their form suggests they are capable of another Premiership challenge.

Jurgen Sommer, Rangers' goalkeeper, was partly responsible for the first goal but had he not been in perceptive form, his side could have been humiliated. As it was, Ipswich's neat, short passing game reduced the visitors to two on-target attempts.

"I enjoyed the space I got," said Uhlenbeek. "From the deep full-back role I can come in and I have now built up a good relationship wth Micky Stockwell and with my pace we can cause problems.

"I had a good first year here and I felt it was time to improve. I was left on the bench but in the last couple of months we have been playing so well, creating so many chances. Unfortunately we are not burying those chances and that's why we need another striker."

Burley sold Ian Marshall to Leicester only to lose Alex Mathie, through injury, for the season. He has so far failed in attempts to sign Marco Gabbiadini, of Derby, and Grimsby's Clive Mendonca.

In the sixth minute teenager Richard Naylor scored after Sommer had blocked Steve Sedgley's shot when he might have held it.

Paul Mason volleyed into the side netting and was denied by Sommer while Naylor was also thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Karl Ready headed against the post to offer Rangers hope early in the second-half but from that juncture, Ipswich dominated.

Uhlenbeek continued to skip through midfield and mesmerise Rangers' appalling defence. With eight minutes left he danced passed three defenders, fed substitute Neil Gregory and the second goal finally came.

On this abysmal performance Rangers are not good enough for promotion and face Wimbledon in the FA Cup next Saturday. Stewart Houston, their manager, was honest, saying: "We were poor, they were good and we got what we deserved."

Daily Telegraph