Match Day Thread QPR v Ipswich Town

Thanks for your analysis Beth.

But please that word GREEN is banned !!!

 

Good game and a win and Henry nowhere to be seen, coincidence?

 

We know the feeling!

Losing the game right at the end is really painful
Bartosz Bialkowski


The Polish goalkeeper admits disappointment at loss, but remains confident going forward
Bartosz Bialkowski is confident that Town do still have the quality required to finish in the Play-Offs, despite slipping to seventh.

The Pole made a string of impressive saves but couldn’t prevent the Blues falling to defeat at the hands of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s QPR, thanks to Matt Phillips late strike.

“We’ve still got a decent team and we still believe we can make the Play-Offs,” he told Ipswich Player HD.

“Losing the game right at the end is really painful. It’s a hard one to take but that’s football. The next game comes around really quickly so we just need to learn our lessons and defend better, especially in the final stages of the game.

“In the first-half they had a few chances, but in the second-half we had a few chances so we’re really disappointing and it’s frustrating to lose the game in that way.

“Our away support was absolutely amazing today and I think there was around 3,000 fans so fair play to them.”

Read more at http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/...-loss-at-qpr-2942380.aspx#c05laCs2b4g58lPY.99

 

Same on other sides of all ponds I think.

 

We know the feeling!

Losing the game right at the end is really painful
Bartosz Bialkowski


The Polish goalkeeper admits disappointment at loss, but remains confident going forward
Bartosz Bialkowski is confident that Town do still have the quality required to finish in the Play-Offs, despite slipping to seventh.

The Pole made a string of impressive saves but couldn’t prevent the Blues falling to defeat at the hands of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s QPR, thanks to Matt Phillips late strike.

“We’ve still got a decent team and we still believe we can make the Play-Offs,” he told Ipswich Player HD.

“Losing the game right at the end is really painful. It’s a hard one to take but that’s football. The next game comes around really quickly so we just need to learn our lessons and defend better, especially in the final stages of the game.

“In the first-half they had a few chances, but in the second-half we had a few chances so we’re really disappointing and it’s frustrating to lose the game in that way.

“Our away support was absolutely amazing today and I think there was around 3,000 fans so fair play to them.”

Read more at http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/...-loss-at-qpr-2942380.aspx#c05laCs2b4g58lPY.99

 

Saints, a man down, 1-0 up up against the Hammers, bring on Charlie for the final 20 mins.

 

Hot off the press from the East Anglian Daily Times

Matt Phillips scored in the 88th minute as Ipswich Town lost 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers at a wind-swept Loftus Road this afternoon.

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Matt Phillips arrives to head the ball home for QPR at the far post late in the game against Ipswich

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Bartosz Bialkowski makes a good first half save at QPR

The Blues were battered in a one-sided first half but reached the break level thanks to a series of fine Bartosz Bialkowski saves.

The second period was more even and, as the match entered the last 10 minutes, it looked as though the tide was turning in the favour of Mick McCarthy’s men.

Alex Smithies made a fine close-range stop from Freddie Sears, then Brett Pitman’s crisp volley was blocked in the box as a travelling army numbering more than 3,000 tried to suck the ball into the net.

It was QPR who made the breakthrough though, Phillips stooping to head home substitute Abdenasser El Khayati’s cross into the net with just two minutes to go.

Ipswich threw the kitchen sink at the hosts in response and twice came desperately close to equalising in stoppage-time.

Sears fired a golden opportunity straight at Smithies, then moments later the home keeper made a sublime close-range stop from the same player after Jonas Knudsen’s long throw-in had caused havoc.

A frustrating afternoon was then compounded when Ryan Fraser pulled up clutching his hamstring at the death.

Town have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions to exit the FA Cup and slip out of the Championship play-off places once more. This was only QPR’s second victory in 12 matches under new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy made three changes to his team following the 2-1 midweek home win over Reading. The injured Luke Hyam was replaced by Kevin Bru in midfield, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Daryl Murphy – both out-of-sorts against the Royals – were replaced by that evening’s super subs Brett Pitman and Luke Varney. That meant a change to a 4-4-2 system, with Sears and Fraser on the flanks and Pitman/Varney up top.

Bialkowski made a superb double stop with just 40 seconds on the clock. First he beat away Phillips’ angled effort, then he got up to keep out Massimo Luongo’s follow-up attempt. It was a phase of play which rather set the tone for the next 45 minutes.

Conor Washington hit the post for the hosts, although the offside flag was raised, then Christophe Berra twice got his team-mates out of jail with some covering tackles On one occasion Knudsen’s clearance had been charged down, on the other Luke Chambers had been spun high up the pitch.

Bialkowski made another fine save in he 20th minute. This time he bravely threw himself at the feet of Junior Hoilett at the far post after Phillips’ ;low cross had evaded everyone in the six-yard box.

QPR created another golden opening just before the half an hour mark after passing their way down the right side. A quick pass from Sebastian Polter sent Hoilett racing clear, but he chose to shoot – Bialkowski equal to the near post effort – rather than square to an unmarked Phillips.

Livewire left-winger Hoilett was popping up all over the place and he curled an effort just wide. At the other end, Pitman hit a tame shot that Smithies easily picked up and there were ironic cheers from the crowd.

The R’s continued to press and twice more they went close in the closing stages of the half. Full-back James Perch fired into the side-netting, following Phillips’ low cross, then Hoilett rifled wide after some slick interplay.

McCarthy changed tactics at the break, moving Sears to the left, Varney to the right and asking Fraser to operate in behind Pitman. It helped. Suddenly the B,ues weren;t being overrun in the middle.

Pitman’s looping header was easily caught, then Hoilett rifled another shot wide. It was far more even.

McCarthy shuffled his pack just before the hour, replacing Varney and Skuse with Murphy and Giles Coke. The two teams continued to trade half chances, Fraser dragging a shot across the face of goal and Bialkowski watching a Phillips shot wide.

Berra’s imperious afternoon continued when he brilliantly cut out Paul Konchesky’s low cross ahead of Washington. Luongo’s shot through the crowd was then comfortably dealt with by Bialkowski.

The game then exploded into life in the final 10 minutes.

Knudsen’s long throw was flicked on by the head of Berra, scrambled further forwards by Pitman and somehow Smithies managed to save from Sears at the near post. Three minutes later, Pitman met Bru’s corner with a sweet volley but Grant Hall threw himself in the way of the goalbound shot.

It was QPR who made the crucial breakthrough though. Sub El Khayati showed neat footwork before clipping a cross to the far post and Phillips stooped to nod home from close-range. Several Ipswich players appealed vociferously for handball earlier in the move but the referee waved away their protests.

The Blues threw everyone forwards at the death and twice they came close to forcing an equaliser in stoppage-time. After Fraser found Knudsen on the overlap, his cross picked out Sears but the striker shot straight at Smithies.

Then, in a nerve-jangling final phase of play, Smithies ending saving from Sears from point-blank range after another Knudsen long throw had caused chaos on the box.

QPR (4-2-3-1): Smithies; Perch, Onuoha (cpt), Hall, Konchesky; Faurlin (Tozser 59), Luongo; Phillips, Washington (El Khayati 81), Hoilett (Mackie 70); Polter.
Unused subs: Ingram, Chery, Angella, Petrasso.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Chambers (cpt), Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Sears, Skuse (Coke 58), Bru, Fraser (Toure 90+); Varney (Murphy 58), Pitman.

Unused subs: Henly, Foley, Digby, M-Niles.

Attendance: 17,044 (3,188 away)

Referee: Mr C Breakspear

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/match_r..._championship_play_off_places_again_1_4408686

 

Don't agree on polter , he was instrumental in virtually all the chances we made . I was at the game , Washington looked good and luongo was superb

Still don't see what ale does , overrated

 

My views on today.

We continued our improvement with every game we are playing. It was also nice to see every player, including Phillips, commit themselves to the team's cause.

We have a goalkeeper! Not only does Smithies look confident, in control & have good ball handling, he also talks! His catch of a corner after we had scored was superb. I can't remamber when I last saw a Rangers 'keeper do that! It may have been Chris Day!

Until we scored, the defence looked very much at ease.

Faurlin & Luongo completely ran the midfield. Their ball winning & distribution were a class above Ipswich & Tozzer had his best game for us when he came on. Can someone please tell me if Ale went off as an injury precaution, following his knock in the first half? If so, what is the injury & how long is it likely to keep him out? We are a different team when he is playing!

Junior created some chances, but had his Tommy Williams moment when he didn't pass to Connor Washington! Polter worked so hard but his first touch was a little stroppy! Phillips tried after he had shirked his first challenge, but IMO he had the least effect on the game of our players. However, he scored! That will do me.

El Khayati looks to have some promise & if he continues to mishite his shots & we score from them it will be great!

Now we come to Connor Washington. The boy can play! Our two January transfers have seen my excitement levels rise considerably!

All in all, it's not a bad night to live in Ipswich!

Read more: http://qprreport.proboards.com/thread/42516/match-thread-ipswich#ixzz3zQ7c7Ycq

 

Always like to read your posts Terry you clearly know what you are talking about.

 

Just back from a thoroughly enjoyable day out. An excellent performance from Rangers today and a fully deserved three points.

How good it is to have a goalkeeper that we can have confidence in. Smithies caught one ball late on amongst a crowd of players which made me stand and applaud.

Washington looks like an excellent signing, but MOM by a mile was Luongo.

 

Polter is a funny one. He gives his all and wins headers and causes problems however he is awful with his feet. He cannot 'trap a bag of cement'. He has the touch of 'Jack the Ripper'. Basically, what i am saying is he is sh*t on the ground but okay in the air

 

From you blokes this sounds worryingly promising. How many pints pre match lads?

 

Great posts chaps
..mrsf knows what's coming later!

 

Four pre and five post.

 

Yet in the 3 minutes highlights on here he has several excellent passes, first and second touch. Not debating mate, you were there I wasn't. But he only needs to get it right a few times a match to make a difference, as long as he at least makes a nuisance of himself the rest of the time. Not ideal, not premier league, but adequate at this level. Wunderbar!

 

Enjoy the rugby?

 

Good to see newer players starting to make an impact, I think JFH is gradually finding the right blend and makeup of the team...

 

Got what I wished for!

Thanks Dave for the lucky omen.

 

Enjoyed the result, but it was a bit of a struggle wasn't it? Looking forward to tomorrow's game. Everyone in our group in the pub agreed that Ireland v Wales is a much bigger attraction than Chelsea v Man U.