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The R’s victory over Birmingham last time out on the road means we have the opportunity to build some momentum away from Loftus Road - something we have struggled with in the opening half of the season.
QPR were victorious when facing Ipswich back in September thanks to goals from Jamie Mackie and Luke Freeman and will be hoping for similar success in Suffolk.
Mick McCarthy and his Ipswich side will be happy with the way they performed in the first half of the campaign. The Tractor Boys are in 10th place - just three points off the play-off positions.
Ipswich have played a more attacking style of football this season - occasionally opting to use four forwards and have reaped the rewards of this bold approach with only Derby and Wolves scoring more goals than them.
McCarthy will also be happy with the impact his additions to the squad in the summer have made. The two strikers Ipswich brought to the club - Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn - have scored 16 league goals between them whilst loanee Callum Connolly has performed excellently in a midfield role recently.
The Blues have been very strong at home - winning seven games and losing just three with only four teams in the league picking up more points than them from home fixtures.
Mick McCarthy is the longest serving manager in the Championship having been in charge of Ipswich for over five years.
They were beaten by his former employees’ Wolves 1-0 in their last outing but have not suffered back-to-back defeats since the middle of October.
Ironically this was also the fixture on Boxing Day two years ago with the R’s suffering a late defeat thanks to a 92nd minute goal from defender Luke Chambers.
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Last Time Out
The R’s 100% record at Loftus Road continued with a deserved victory over Ipswich.
Jamie Mackie gave us the lead just before half-time when he slid in to meet Pawel Wszolek's cross.
Luke Freeman then beat Bartosz Bialkowski from outside the box with a low shot to make it 2-0 shortly after the break.
Bersant Celina pulled a goal back late on with a fine strike from distance but the Hoops held on.
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Stats
- QPR have kept just two clean sheets away from home in 2017 (against Reading and Leeds)
- Ipswich Town have scored two goals or more in each of their last four home matches
- No draws in the last 13 games between the two clubs
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Ian Holloway: “Ipswich will be very consistent in the way Mick (McCarthy) plays. I think he has a fantastic group of lads there who are having a very, very good season and it will be a tough ask. I see us continuing to grow, we have an away win under our belt now and if we can get another one up there then it will be another big boost.”
Mick McCarthy: “It’s our home game, it’s one we want to win. We’ve lost a lot of players and I need some players back from injury. I have seven midfielders out at the moment. Will any of them back on Boxing Day? I don’t know."
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Team News
QPR: QPR have no new injury concerns ahead of the game in Suffolk but will welcome striker Jamie Mackie back from suspension.
I've got a funny feeling that Holloway loves Mackie and will start him again.
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Ipswich: Cole Skuse missed Saturday's defeat at Wolves with an ankle problem and Jonas Knudsen was also unavailable due to a sickness bug. Both are rated doubtful for tomorrow. Flynn Downes (calf), Emyr Huws (knee), Tom Adeyemi (hamstring), Tristan Nydam (hips), Andre Dozzell (knee) and Luke Hyam (knee) are also out.
Referee
Andy Davies: The same referee when the two teams met back in September.
