The fresh chilling winter wind blew across Loftus Road in their daunting 3rd Round FA Cup fixture. The atmosphere around the stadium was tense. Rangers have a woeful cup road and they are facing Bielsa's quick and dominating Leeds United. Another heartbreaking, but expected, defeat was on the horizon.

An unforeseen twist in the tale descended upon the Rangers fans. QPR had managed to secure a 2-1 win with a Jake Bidwell winner. It was their first 3rd Round win in the FA Cup since 2012/13. McClaren's team reached the climax of their success last season once they secured a place in the 5th Round. Amongst the rare positivity, a QPR career had all-but ended.

In their cup triumph against Leeds, Matt Ingram was brought back into the team as the new 'cup goalkeeper'. It was likely to be his last chance if his poor form continued. Leeds hitting the post within the first 33 seconds didn't settle his or the fans' nerves, who had become used to his unforced errors. Leeds soon punished Ingram for spilling a comfortable save from a long distance free-kick straight down his throat. It was his final major error at QPR as he didn't play again.

Upon signing for Hull, Ingram stated to their official website:  “I’m absolutely delighted to be here and I’m looking forward to a fresh start with Hull City. It’s a new chapter for me and I’m looking forward to helping this club to push up the table and do as well as it can.”

The 25-year-old goalkeeper will be counting on a "fresh start" as he became a victim of a severe lack of confidence and the inability to fill his predecessor's shoes. Ingram joined QPR in 2016 as a bright young star at Wycombe Wanderers. He became the number two option to the ever-so reliant Alex Smithies. When Smithies vanished from the starting line-up, Ingram had to seize his chance.

Smithies was vital to keeping the West London side in the Championship with his accurate kicking, quick reaction saves and god-like penalty saving powers. When Ingram filled in for the departing goalkeeper, he never experienced the comfortable start he hoped for. Poor kicking and judgement boiled intense pressure inside the Loftus Road cauldron. Doubts began to spill out from fans.

With no new signings threatening his position, Ingram was gifted the chance to become the guaranteed heir to Smithies' throne. But the over-spillage of doubts transformed into anger and frustration after dismal showings. A 7-1 defeat away to West Brom, combined with Bristol City strolling to a 3-0 win at Loftus Road, regrettably proved the doubters right.

Ingram's self-confidence was shot. The dreadful start to the season, as a whole, forced McClaren to swap Ingram for Joel Lumley; who had performed well in the Carabao Cup.  The gentle up-turn in results, and good performances from Lumley spelled the end to Ingram's hopes to become the successor to Smithies'. His 3rd Round performance was the final nail in the coffin.

Ingram's QPR career is wholly forgettable for everyone involved. It was a match that never recovered after a shaky start. Belief and confidence will be needed to reignite the glowing potential he displayed at Wycombe as a 22-year-old. It is matter of time and Grant McCann's capacity to extract the talent hidden inside a faulty goalkeeper's shell.