If Ipswich Town are supposedly punching above their weight, then there are several in the Championship doing the opposite.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy levelled that accusation at 16th-placed Reading, prior to Town’s 2-1 home win over the Royals on Tuesday night, and he’s said the same about Queens Park Rangers ahead of tomorrow’s game at Loftus Road.

The big-budget Londoners have struggled since their relegation from the Premier League last year and currently sit 13th in the table.

Chris Ramsey was sacked last November, then came a caretaker stint under the returning Neil Warnock, while new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s record reads P11 W1 D7 L3 – one of those losses being by a 2-1 scoreline at Portman Road on Boxing Day.

Since then, the Hoops have had to sell star striker Charlie Austin to Southampton and loan key midfielder Leroy Fer to Swansea in an attempt to balance the books.

“They are another team with good players,” said McCarthy. “I think QPR – like Reading - have punched below their weight, although I know what it’s like when you come down and have to get players out the door. It’s really, really difficult that and I don’t envy any of them having to do that.

“I think with Jimmy Floyd in now it seems to have settled down and I’ve got no doubt he will get them going again and be a success.”

He added: “It’s their home game and Loftus Road is one of those stadiums where the stands are close and the pitch seems smaller than it is. That can make it tough, but likewise, if you are playing well as the away side, you can make it tough for them too.”

Ryan Fraser (tight hamstring), Luke Hyam (sore calf) and Daryl Murphy (kick on the foot) all picked up minor injuries in midweek but are expected to pass fitness tests.

Keeper Dean Gerken (shoulder), midfielders Jonathan Douglas (suspended) and Teddy Bishop (hamstring) and striker David McGoldrick (hamstring) all remain sidelined, while QPR continue to leave out first-choice keeper Rob Green due to the fact they don’t want him to trigger a clause in his contract that would automatically give him another year.