Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Npower Football League Championship
Loftus Road Stadium
Referee: K K Wright
Kick-off: 20:00
Queens Park Rangers (1st) V Ipswich Town (13th)
By The Godfather

Queens Park Rangers really should have beaten Preston. Warnock’s men were in control for much of the match and it was disappointing that they weren’t able to ‘kill off’ the Lilywhites. However, as always, the reaction on the WATRB message board has been over-the-top. The fact is that the Rs are still top of the league table, boasting a valuable five-point lead. I’m sure that Nottingham Forest, Swansea, Cardiff and Norwich fans would all love to be in our position.

That said, it is crucial that Queens Park Rangers beat Ipswich Town in order to maintain their lead over the chasing pack. Since Paul Jewell’s arrival at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys have dramatically improved and I expect that this will be another tough fixture.

Ipswich Town

Manager: Paul Jewell

Roy Keane’s eighteen months in charge at Portman Road were unremarkable to say the very least. Last season, he only managed to achieve a 15th-placed finish, far below supporters’ expectations. Although Town started the 2010/11 campaign brightly, performances soon deteriorated. By January, the Tractor Boys had dropped to 19th position and it wasn’t particularly surprising when Keane was sacked.

Paul Jewell was appointed as Keane’s replacement and has clearly made a positive impact. He has won four out of his seven matches so far (he also managed the 3-0 Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal), most notably an incredible 6-0 away victory over Doncaster. This run of form has propelled the Tractor Boys into mid-table, with the team currently sitting in 13th position. In an interview for the BBC regarding QPR, Jewell stressed that the Championship is a division in which “anyone can beat anyone”. As we’ve seen over the last week with Scunthorpe and Preston, this is a valid claim. Therefore, Ipswich must not be underestimated.

Men to watch

Remember Tamas Priskin? The Hungarian international joined the Rs on loan last season, a striker who soon became unpopular for a series of performances which many perceived to be lazy. Expect to see his pink boots grace the turf of Loftus Road once again on Tuesday night. He has actually enjoyed a relatively successful campaign, notching seven goals in all competitions.

Experienced goalscorer, Jason Scotland, could pose a threat. The 32 year-old is proven at this level, having netted 45 times in 90 appearances for Swansea between 2007 and 2009. It was this record that attracted the interest of Premier League Wigan Athletic, who purchased him in 2009. However, he wasn’t able to make an impact in the top tier and joined Town last summer. He is currently the Tractor Boys’ joint top scorer, with nine goals to his name.

Up front, Ipswich also have a very talented youngster, Connor Wickham. This season, the 17 year-old has impressed supporters with his skill and ability in front of goal. Four weeks ago, in a match against Sheffield United, he scored a goal which is considered by many to be one of the greatest ever at Portman Road. Picking up the ball inside the Blades’ half, he dribbled past three players, before skilfully wrongfooting the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the back of the net. In the 6-0 win against Doncaster, he netted a hat trick, although the Donny defenders didn’t exactly make it difficult for him. He will be feeling confident ahead of this fixture, and must be marked closely.

Carlos Edwards could also cause problems for QPR. The 32 year-old winger has an abundance of experience at this level, having previously enjoyed spells at Luton, Sunderland and Wolves. Edwards is pacey and skilful and will provide a very stern test for the Rs’ fullbacks on Tuesday night.

In central midfield, Ipswich have arguably one of the best set-piece takers in the country, Jimmy Bullard. The former Fulham midfielder joined Hull a couple of years ago for £5 million, but has signed for Ipswich on loan this season. Had it not been for a series of injuries, Bullard would probably still be playing Premiership football.

Former R, Damien Delaney, will also feature in Tuesday night’s match. He played for the Super Hoops between 2008 and 2009 and, at first, impressed the fans with his performances. However, following a call-up to the Ireland national team, his displays became complacent and, frankly, lazy. He signed for Ipswich prior to the 2009/10 season and has since established himself as a first team regular.

Previous Match

September 2010 – Queens Park Rangers beat Ipswich comfortably at Portman Road, producing one of their best away performances in years. Jamie Mackie opened the scoring in the 31st minute, smashing the ball into the back of the net after a well-worked move. Just ten minutes later, Mackie got his second of the evening, driving at the Ipswich defence and sending a powerful drive into the bottom corner. Helguson sealed the victory from the penalty spot in the second half, even though Akos Buzsaky had volleyed into the back of the net just before the referee had blown his whistle.

Ipswich Town 0-3 Queens Park Rangers

QPR Team News

Wayne Routledge and Matt Connolly picked up slight knocks against Preston, but should be available for this fixture. Tommy Smith remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, whilst Hogan Ephraim is still suspended. Heidar Helguson should retain his place up front after scoring last Saturday. New signing, Troy Hewitt, could be on the substitutes’ bench depending on whether his move from Harrow Borough is completed in time. Jamie Mackie and Peter Ramage remain long-term absentees.

Promotion Rivals

Nottingham Forest will face Preston North End at the City Ground. Supporters will be expecting a victory and, frankly, the Reds should prove to be too strong for Phil Brown’s men. Cardiff, on the other hand, will have to play Sven Goran-Eriksson’s in-form Leicester team, who come into the game on the back of five consecutive victories. I predict an away win here. Meanwhile, Swansea will travel to Coventry City, which I believe will be a close encounter, possibly ending in a draw. Finally, Norwich City should keep up the pressure on the top two with a win over Doncaster at Carrow Road.

Prediction

Expect this to be a fairly even encounter between two sides that boast some quality attacking players. However, I think that QPR will win the game because they are far stronger defensively. Warnock’s men have only conceded 20 goals this season, compared with Ipswich’s total of 39. Therefore, I predict a narrow home victory.

Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Ipswich Town