Ipswich and QPR produced a drab Boxing Day match as they fought out the first goalless draw of the season at Portman Road.

There were chances at either end but neither side could capitalise as the 0-0 outcome signified the mediocre festive fare served up to 18,696 spectators.

QPR had midfielder Josh Scowen sent off in the closing stages as they returned to London with a point.

Opportunities came and went untaken, from the moment in the fifth minute when a snap shot by David McGoldrick from just inside the QPR penalty area was smartly saved down to his left by Alex Smithies.

Six minutes later a surging forward run by QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo led to him feeding the ball to Idrissa Sylla whose shot was deflected wide by Ipswich defender Dominic Iorfa.

Then another positive step out of midfield, this time by QPR’s Luke Freeman, led to him passing to Jordan Cousins whose goalbound shot was cleared for a corner by home skipper Luke Chambers.

Skilful play by Teddy Bishop in the 17th minute brought the Ipswich supporters to their feet but he was fouled by Scowen who was booked by referee Andy Davies.

In the 22nd minute persistent work by Freddie Sears led to Ipswich winning a corner, and in the 24th minute Jonas Knudsen was booked for a foul on raiding QPR forward Cousins.

From the resulting free-kick, home keeper Bartosz Bialkowski pushed the ball over the bar after full-back Jake Bidwell unleashed an attempt at goal.

In the 32nd minute a long-range shot from McGoldrick had Smithies scrambling to cover his goal as the ball sailed narrowly wide of the right-hand upright.

The Ipswich fans were roused in the 43rd minute when Sears broke free and his cross was dummied by Martyn Waghorn for Joe Garner, but QPR cleared.

As the half drew to a close, a corner by Waghorn found Sears almost on the goal-line but he was crowded out by visiting defenders.

In the 57th minute, Adam Webster’s pass from inside his own half to McGoldrick saw the forward head goalwards but his shot went harmlessly wide.

Then nine minutes later a break down the right by QPR’s Pawel Wszolek led to him crossing into the Ipswich penalty area, only for the ball to evade Sylla.

Another run down the same flank by Wszolek led to his cross being cleared for a corner by Chambers, as the breakthrough remained frustratingly out of reach.

Scowen was shown the red card in the 86th minute for fouling Grant Ward just outside the penalty area, his second bookable offence.

But rather than teeing up a late winner, that outcome led to substitute Bersant Celina sending his free-kick narrowly over the bar.

QPR: Smithies, Baptiste, Onuoha, Robinson, Wszolek, Luongo, Scowen, Bidwell, Freeman, Cousins (Osayi-Samuel 82), Sylla (Smith 80). Unused subs: Furlong, Hall, Washington, Lumley, Chair.

Attendance: 18,696.