Queens Park Rangers vs Ipswich Town. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road StadiumAttendance16,790.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town at Loftus Road as Conor Chaplin steered the Tractor Boys to a third win in three games.
Saturday 19 August 2023 18:57, UK
Conor Chaplin's goal gave Ipswich a 1-0 victory at QPR and maintained their 100 per cent Sky Bet Championship record this season.
Ipswich, promoted from League One last season and now unbeaten in 22 league games, rode their luck at Loftus Road before scoring against the run of play with 15 minutes remaining.
Nathan Broadhead found Chaplin in the box and, after his first shot was blocked by Jack Colback, the striker fired the loose ball beyond keeper Asmir Begovic.
QPR had created several chances - and were desperately unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time.
They could not have gone closer to scoring when Sinclair Armstrong's strike from near the left-hand edge of the penalty area struck the inside of the far post and then the inside of the opposite post.
The pace and directness of 20-year-old striker Armstrong continued to cause Ipswich major problems after that near miss.
Armstrong chased a long ball from Paul Smyth and forced a mistake from the worried Luke Woolfenden before unleashing a shot which keeper Vaclav Hladky did well to save.
Hladky also pushed over Morgan Fox's looping header from a free-kick swung in by Ilias Chair, who sent one shot narrowly over and another wide of the near post from a tight angle as QPR kept up the pressure.
Ipswich did also threaten before the break. Wes Burns missed a great chance when he was unable to find the target when free at the far post, and George Hirst later fired over from just inside the box.
The visitors were on the back foot again early in the second half - again largely because of the relentless Armstrong.
The young Irishman darted with the ball between Woolfenden and Harry Clarke on the left flank and charged towards the box, where Hladky managed to deny him.
Then an astonishing miss let Ipswich off the hook again.
In trying to add a decisive touch after good work from Chair, Armstrong inadvertently diverted the ball away from the target towards Rangers defender Osman Kakay, who contrived to blast wide of an open goal.
Armstrong, playing in the absence of the injured Lyndon Dykes, is hugely exciting but has shown a lack of stamina so far during his fledgling career.
And when he went off midway through the second half, Rangers inevitably faded and boss Gareth Ainsworth's limited options were underlined.
Ipswich took advantage and looked comfortable after going ahead, although Chair almost scored a sensational late equaliser when his audacious attempt from near the halfway line was tipped over by the scrambling Hladky.
QPR's Gareth Ainsworth:
"I've got to look past this result. We're a mile away from where we were last season and it's so good to see. The boys were brilliant and gave everything.
"I'm gutted we haven't got anything from it but I'm also hugely happy with the performance. Mark my words - and I really hope I'm proved right here - I think we can achieve things.
"I think we're going to be fine. Write us off at your peril this year."
Ipswich's Kieran McKenna:
"We've ignored it. We focus on performances and results.
"There are certainly no deluded heads in that dressing room. We know how hard we're having to work in every game.
"We're doing some things well but we know we can still improve. The margins are going our way and we know that if you keep improving and doing the right things then you give yourself a better chance.
"We know how tough the division is - you can see it in every game. Anyone can beat anyone.
"There's certainly no chance of anyone getting ahead of themselves. The players are happy but they're tired and know they're going to have to work just as hard, or harder, against Leeds next week."
