Ipswich: Match Reports, Comments and Video

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Ipswich Town vs QPR
0 - 3

QPR stretched their lead at the summit of the Championship to three points with another glittering away display against Ipswich Town.

The R's were in superlative form, and they found themselves two goals to the good at half-time thanks to the in-form Jamie Mackie.

Mackie's first owed much to his perseverance than anything else, as he rode two challenges before firing into the bottom corner.

The second was pure poetry in motion.

The division's top scorer strode from inside his own half, before burying a clinical finish past a stranded Marton Fulop.

And the rout was complete midway into the second period, when Heidar Helguson enhanced his ever-growing popularity amongst the Rangers supporters with a textbook spot-kick.

Rangers lined-up in their accustomed 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to Portman Road, with new loan signing Kyle Walker making his R's debut following a move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Paddy Kenny started between the sticks.

Walker and Clint Hill occupied the full-back positions, whilst Matt Connolly once again partnered Kaspars Gorkss at the centre of defence.

Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin began in defensive midfield.

Mackie, Adel Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim took up more advanced positions ahead of the holding two.

Meanwhile, Helguson led the QPR attack.

On a heavily watered playing surface following an onslaught of wet weather in the Suffolk region, it was the R's who got off to a promising start in the opening five minutes.

Ephraim played a neat ball to Helguson in the area, who took one touch to set himself before lashing a left-footed drive straight at Fulop.

Roared on by a handsome away following, QPR should have edged themselves in front on nine minutes.

Taarabt's sweeping corner from the right was met by the head of Connolly six-yards out, but the cultured defender could only nod agonisingly over the net.

Although QPR had the best of the early chances, there was little to separate the two sides in the opening 15 minutes as the rain continued to lash down on the lush Portman Road playing surface.

There was a change in referee, however, with Mr Stroud leaving the field of play in the 16th minute with an injury, being replaced by Mr Margets.

Following a flurry of free-kicks, Fulop was again called into action in the 25th minute.

Taarabt's darting cross was flicked on by Connolly for Helguson at the back post, with the keeper forced to pull off a stunning low save at his near right-hand post to palm the ball out for a corner kick.

QPR attacker Taarabt was proving a constant thorn in the Town side, and he forced a smart low save from Fulop after neat interplay with Mackie.

The R's weren't to be denied, however, and it was man of the moment Mackie who fired Rangers into the lead on 30 minutes.

Following Gorkss' long pass and Helguson's cute flick-on, Mackie brushed past two challenges to create space for himself before smashing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

The Hoops were forced into a change on 37 minutes, with Faurlin making way for Akos Buzsaky, seemingly at the expense of a calf injury.

The setback didn't affect the R's - in fact it did anything but that, as they doubled their account on 42 minutes on the counter attack.

Taarabt found Mackie in his own half, before the enthusiastic forward burst into the final third and towards the Ipswich box.

Under pressure from two Tractor Boys defenders, Mackie didn't falter, as he dragged the ball past Fulop from 12-yards out low into the left-hand corner of the net.

It would be fair to say that Town - buoyed by a double substitution to introduce both Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin - came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second period.

Ipswich's Jason Scotland produced a stinging low drive that saw Kenny produce a smart low save, as the QPR custodian stooped to claim the ball.

Though Rangers rode the initial storm, and they twice came within inches of adding a third strike.

Rangers forward Taarabt combined with Mackie in the penalty area, before his rasping shot forced a fine save to Fulop's left, as the keeper tipped the ball to safety.

And soon after, the stopper pulled of another fine save. Connolly's long ball was nodded down by Helguson in the penalty area for Taarabt, whose resultant looping header saw Fulop sprawl to his right superbly to palm the effort away.

The R's were firmly on the front foot in their search for a third goal, and they got their just rewards for a sustained period of pressure midway through the half.

Following a foul on Mackie by Tommy Smith in the box, the referee was left with no option but to point for a penalty kick.

Iceman Helguson stepped up to take it and made no mistake, sliding the ball into the net for his fourth goal of the season - and sending the QPR faithful home ecstatic after another colossal showing.

Ipswich Town: Fulop, Peters. Kennedy, McAuley, Smith, Hyam (Priskin 46), Leadbitter, Norris, Scotland, Edwards (Brown 72), Townsend (Wickham 46).

Subs: Murphy, Eastman, Hourihane, Healy.

Bookings: Scotland (45), Smith (66), Leadbitter (70)

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Leigertwood 60), Helguson, Faurlin (Buzsaky 37), Mackie (Smith 80), Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Ephraim.

Subs: Cerny, Agyemang, German, Parker.

Goals: Mackie (30 & 42), Helguson (pen 68)

Referee: Mr K Stroud

Attendance: 19, 931 (976)

TWTD
www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=17095

Town 0 QPR 3
Town’s unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end as Neil Warnock’s impressive QPR side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Portman Road. Jamie Mackie struck twice in the first half and Heidar Helguson added a third from the spot after the break.


Darren O’Dea wasn’t risked for Town after aggravating his injured knee at Portsmouth on Saturday and Mark Kennedy came in at left-back for his home debut. As expected, loanee Andros Townsend came in for Tamás Priskin on the left of the front three having completed his one-match ban.


QPR’s Heidar Helguson struck the game’s first shot in the opening minute, but despite heavy pre-match rain making the surface slippery, Márton Fülöp gathered easily.

The first scare in the visitors’ penalty area came from a Grant Leadbitter freekick, which was headed into the air just in front of Jason Scotland with Paddy Kenny claiming at the second attempt. For Rangers, Clint Hill was found by a long freekick down the left but headed wide.

QPR probably should have gone in front in the ninth minute when Matthew Connolly was left unmarked at a corner but headed over. The game was held up on 14 when the linesman in front of the Cobbold Stand, David Margetts, hobbled off injured.

The visitors were having the better of the game’s few chances and in the 25th minute a freekick from the right eventually found Helguson on the left . The Icelander’s shot looked to be going wide but Fülöp made sure by pushing it wide.

Town’s Hungarian keeper was in action again moments later, doing superbly to claim Taarabt’s out-swinging cross, then stopping the former Spurs man’s low shot after a quick QPR break from halfway.

The visitors were continuing to have the better of it, certainly creating more chances, and on the half hour mark they went in front. Diminutive striker Jamie Mackie was found inside the area by a Helguson flick, Tommy Smith and Mark Kennedy both blocked his first effort, leaving themselves grounded as the ex-Plymouth man took the ball past Hyam and beat Fülöp from six yards.

McAuley nodded a Helguson header from a tight angle from under the bar a minute later, prior to Rangers midfielder Alejandro Faurlin being forced off injured, Akos Buzsaky taking over.

Town weren’t far from a fluke goal in the 41st minute when Gareth McAuley’s shot from the left after a corner hit Jason Scotland. The ball could have gone anywhere but struck a defender before going out for another corner, from which the visitors broke and increased their lead.

Adel Taarabt found Mackie on halfway and the striker took the ball on unchallenged into the Town penalty area before coolly slipping it past Fülöp. In the final minute of normal time, the largely isolated Jason Scotland was booked for catching Paul Connolly with a frustrated stray arm.

And that just about summed up Town’s first half. The Blues had created little of note, McAuley’s deflection off Scotland was their best opportunity, and too often long balls forward had quickly been returned. Town had struggled to cope with QPR’s attacking threat, Mackie taking his two chances confidently and the visitors always looked more likely to score.

Unsurprisingly, Roy Keane made two changes at the break, Connor Wickham and Tamás Priskin replacing Andros Townsend and Luke Hyam, who had struggled against Taarabt for the most part. Wickham went to the centre of the front three with Scotland and Priskin in the deeper right and left roles respectively.

Town had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 50th minute when Wickham did superbly to hold off a defender before cutting the ball back to Edwards, who scuffed his shot wide and behind the on-rushing Norris.

The chance seemed to give the Blues a boost and soon after Scotland held the ball up on the left and played a pass inside to Leadbitter, whose strike flew wide.

Scotland shot low through to Kenny, but Town were still to truly test the former Sheffield United man and the visitors were looking dangerous whenever they broke, Helguson scuffing a shot wide in the 57th minute.

Just before the hour, Fülöp saved first from Mackie, although there appeared to be a hint of offside as he broke forward, then made a similarly impressive stop from a Taarabt diving header. The Moroccan was subbed soon after, making it clear he was less than impressed to be replaced.

In the 67th minute Tommy Smith was booked for a cynical foul on the breaking Mackie on halfway, just prior to the visitors adding their third in slightly bizarre circumstances.

Smith tackled Mackie as the ball was played into feet just inside the area, the loose ball falling for Akos Buzsaky 20 yards out. The Hungarian slammed an unstoppable effort past his international team-mate Fülöp, but referee Keith Stroud had already blown his whistle for a penalty, having somewhat harshly deemed Smith’s challenge a foul. Helguson stepped up to score from the spot.

Leadbitter was booked for a foul, then on 71 Troy Brown replaced Carlos Edwards, Jaime Peters moving into midfield.

Wickham saw a shot deflect wide on 74 after a neat take, but Kenny continued to have a quiet evening. QPR sub Tommy Smith came close to a fourth moments after coming on in the 80th minute, but scuffed wide.

Town never looked like getting back into it against a QPR side which was the better side throughout. It was a difficult game for several of Town’s more impressive performers so far this season. Luke Hyam had his most challenging first team game so far up against the clever Taarabt, while Jaime Peters’s lack of height was exploited on a number of occasions.

Mark Kennedy looked off the pace after his absence through a hamstring injury, while Wickham showed his quality when he came on, providing a brief boost before the third goal killed what hope was left for Town.

Overall , Town, unbeaten up to now, were shown to be somewhat short when up against a QPR side, who on this form will certainly be the side to beat in the Championship this season. A further stiff test awaits the Blues, who are now fifth, when Cardiff visit on Saturday.

myfootballwriter.com

Mackie at the double as Ipswich come crashing back down to the Championship earth
ipswichtown.myfootballwriter.com/2010/09/14/mackie-at-the-double-as-ipswich-come-crashing-back-down-to-the-championship-earth/?
Tue 14 Sep 10 by Dave Gooderham
A double from Jamie Mackie kept QPR top of the Championship and proved that Ipswich are still very much a work in progress.

Two first half goals from the former Plymouth frontman sustained his fantastic start to his career in west London as Town’s youngsters were finally overrun. The home side’s misery was capped by an odd penalty decision – Tommy Smith appearing to pull back Mackie – dispatched by Heidar Helguson, as Town lost their first match of the season and slipped to fifth in the league.

After a stop-start opening, as Luke Hyam did everything he could to try and shackle the floating and dangerous Adel Taarabt, QPR slowly gained the upper hand and the chances followed. Further up the field, Tommy Smith had an equally difficult task marking the dangerous front pairing of Helguson and Mackie. For Town, it was less promising and more depressing with Keane’s decision to play one lone frontman paying little dividend.

Either side of him, Carlos Edwards and Andros Townsend were meant to play off the ex-Wigan man but in truth, Scotland was isolated far too often. The best chances for the home side seemed to come from the long throw of Edwards with even a succession of corners barely beating the front man.

There was no such difficult for the league leaders with both Helguson and Taarabt testing Fulop before the deadlock was broken on 29 minutes – and it had been coming. Mackie was initially denied by a fantastic block, but he reacted quickest to the rebound and finished sharp and low giving the Town keeper little chance.

The hosts could have little complaint about the scoreline and QPR’s lead was almost doubled minutes later when Helguson’s header across goal was cleared from the line by McAuley. In a rare chance for the hosts, albeit again from a set piece, McAuley lashed at a shot but it came too quick for Scotland who failed to turn the shot goalwards.

Four minutes before the interval, QPR did double their lead – in a manner which must have deeply frustrated Keane. A loose ball from an Ipswich attack was leapt upon by the visitors and Mackie found himself breaking through the centre of the Town defence. Perhaps fearing he might get caught for pace, Kennedy backed off until Mackie was able to shoot low past Fulop from 20 yards.

The second half saw the immediate introduction of Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin, the latter strangely occupying something akin to a left-wing spot in place of the returning Andros Townsend. The double substitution, which might have been done a tad early as it deprived Keane of any attacking options as the half wore on, did improve matters a little at first.

Wickham, who impressed Keane and hearted the home faithful, outmuscled Clint Hill down the Ipswich right but his perfect cutback to Edwards was scuffed by the wide-man. Leadbitter failed to find the target with a long-range shot while Scotland did better but could only hit Paddy Kenny’s body with a left foot drive.

But the league leaders soon got to grips with Town’s new men and shape and went on to create the best of the second half chances. Fulop denied Mackie a hat-trick and then Taarabt a deserved goal before QPR boss Neil Warnock consolidated by replacing his playmaker with the more defensive Mikele Leigertwood.

Playing two holding midfielders, the other being one-time Town target Shaun Derry, QPR comfortably held Town at bay before clinching the victory with a third from the penalty spot. A melee in the Town area brought referee Keith Stroud’s whistle a fraction before sub Akos Buzsaky scored a rasping 25-yarder. It mattered not with Helguson placing the spot kick under Fulop sealing a perfect evening for Rangers.

Keane will have a lot to ponder on a night that promised so much – with many Town fans believing a corner had been turned. That might still be so with the return of Wickham an especially welcome sight. But the decision to play one upfront failed with young Hyam never getting to grips with a slick QPR midfield. But he was not helped by his more senior colleagues with not one player in blue really doing themselves justice.

It is early days, but QPR already seem the team to beat in the Championship with the west Londoners boasting an incredible strong squad that Town fans can only look at with envy.

G-d how depressing. Another victory for QPR!

Long-Ball Town Demolished By QPR
www.ipswich.gloryfootball.com/2010/09/14/long-ball-town-demolished-by-qpr/?

There was a certain excitement in the air before tonights game with Championship table-toppers QPR that hadn’t been felt for a long time at Portman Road. Sitting third in the table on goal difference alone, Ipswich faced their toughest test of the season full of optimism. A crowd of just under 20,000 were at the game, with just under 1000 making the short trip from London.
Town made two changes to the side that drew against Portsmouth on Saturday, with Kennedy replacing the injured O’Dea and Andros Townsend returning from a three-game suspension to replace Tamas Priskin. Again, Town opted to play one up front, with Edwards and Spurs-loanee Townsend supporting from the wide positions. Connor Wickham once again appeared on the bench, as his return to first-team action continued.
Town started slowly and never really picked up from there, as a Rangers side managed by old foe Neil Warnock look confident on the ball, passing it around smoothly as Ipswich players chased shadows.
It took until the ninth minute for either side to have their first real attempt at goal, with QPR’s Matthew Connolly heading over a corner kick from close range. This was followed by possible the most amusing moment of the game for Town fans, as linesman David Margetts pulled up, taking an eternity to hobble off the pitch as his colleagues supported him.
The change in official didn’t alter Ipswich’s play, however and QPR continued to dominate, with Town unable to sustain any substantial form of possession.
The visitors were rewarded for their confident play on the half hour mark and it was a goal that Ipswich will be disappointed to have conceded. Helguson headed on to find Mackie in the box, whose turn and shot was blocked by defenders Smith and Kennedy. However, the rebound fell back to Mackie, who was able to plant the ball past Fülöp and into the far corner of the net. This goal seemed to epitomise the game as a whole, with a QPR player consistently winning the second ball ahead of a Town man.
This goal seemed to wake Ipswich up slightly and a short period of sustained pressure saw the Blues win a number of corners, none of which resulted in a genuine goal-scoring chance.
It was from one of these corners that QPR got their second, a quick breakaway saw Mackie bearing down on an isolated Mark Kennedy. With no Town player able to get back and support, Knnedy had no option but to back off, otherwise he faced bringing down Mackie and a certain red. As he reached the penalty box, Mackie surprised Fülöp by shooting and although the shot was low and true, the ‘keeper will be disappointed to have been beaten by such a soft effort.
As the half-time whistle brought play to a close, there were a few quiet murmurs of discontent from an unhappy crowd, which was disappointing to hear, but synonymous with today’s game. Town looked poor, with the 4-5-1 system clearly not working to their advantage. Th Blues seemed to lack the confidence of a side sitting third in the table, sitting back deep and unable to retain possession for any lengthy period of time. The visitors, on the other hand, were the complete opposite; strong, calm and always looking for a pass.
Town came out in the second half with a different look, as Keane tried to change things around. Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin were brought on for Andros Townsend and Luke Hyam. Neither stood out as being worse than their team-mates, but were the sacrificial lambs are Ipswich switched to a 4-3-3.
Wickham immediately showed why he is so sought after in the game, chasing down and winning a long ball, before confidently striding into the box, supplying Edwards with the perfect chance to bring the Blues back into the game. However, Edwards scuffed his shot and his effort soared just behind David Norris, who was waiting at the back post.
This brief resurgence brought the Portman Road crowd to life, however, the comeback was only brief. The same regime from the first half continued, with QPR dominating possession and then instantly winning it back when they lost it. Town began to look disinterested, with only Wickham looking like he was up for the fight.
Long ball after long ball was pumped forward, which was disappointing to see, especially considering Town seemed unable to win a single header in the air. Midfielders Edwards and Norris seemed unable to pass to a blue shirt and Leadbitter was beginning to get petulant.
With twenty minutes to go, QPR added a third, albeit in bizarre circumstances. Smith tackled Mackie in the box and the ball dropped to Buzaky, who fired a thunderous effort past fellow-Hungarian Fülöp. However, the whistle had already been blown by this point, the referee having judged Smith to have fouled Mackie. Helguson took the resulting penalty and although Fülöp guessed the right way, he couldn’t stop the ball from going into the net.
It was a poor day for Town’s ‘keeper, who will be disappointed for the second and third goals, as well as displaying some suspect ball distribution throughout.
From this point, QPR were content, with the away fans singing, ‘we’re just too good for you!’ It was certainly true, on a night that Town got everything wrong, with the continuous reliance on the ineffective long-ball especially frustrating for fans who were just getting on those displays from last season.
With ten minutes to go, Connor Wickham was penalised for a thunderous tackle in the middle of the park, with drew howls of derision from the crowd, as the youngster appeared to have done absolutely nothing wrong. It was consistent with the display of the referee, who, although not getting many decisions wrong, was overly officious, not allowing the game to flow.
More boos met the final whistle, which is a shame, as Town still sit 5th in the table, despite this defeat. There was a heavy sense of pessimism as the crowd filtered out of the ground and although a 3-0 home loss is never easy to take, Ipswich fans mustn’t lose heart.
QPR seem a good side and look as though they will run away with the division this year and Town couldn’t match them for strength. However, despite the heavy-nature of the loss, it’s only three points that Town miss out on and a win against Cardiff on Saturday - another tough game - would certainly go a long way to healing tonights pain.
Everyone associated with the club will know that tonight Town got everything wrong and Keane must work hard over the next few days to put this right. Better ball possession, more composure on the ball and a better shape on the pitch will all be required, if Town are to remain in the hunt.

Goals from SkySportsNews
s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll315/reddevilworshipper/Keane%20Ipswich%20Video%20and%20Radio/Sky%202/?action=view¤t=2010-09-14-1.mp4


Youtube clips
Courtesy of Neil_SI on LFW
www.YouTube.com/neildejyothin

Jamie Mackie at the double as Rangers ease to win at Portman Road
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1312024/Ipswich-Town-0-QPR-3-Jamie-Mackie-double-Rangers-ease-win-Portman-Road.html?
By IVAN SPECK Last updated at 11:52 PM on 14th September 2010
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Add to My Stories
For a club blessed with a billionaire owner, it was bargain-buy striker Jamie Mackie, a £125,000 buy from Plymouth, who eased Queens Park Rangers to their most significant victory of the young season.
He took advantage of a lethargic first-half display by Ipswich to set QPR fair for a win that was made more convincing by Heidar Helguson's 68th-minute penalty.
After a promising start to the season, both sets of fans will be dreaming of a return to the Premier League and managing expectations will be the next challenge for QPR manager Neil Warnock.

At the double: Mackie fires the first of his brace to open the scoring at Portman Road

He said: 'I knew we had to start well and we did. I don't think anybody could have coped with us, the way we played tonight.'
Warnock's team was the only one in the top nine to win last night and they possessed a greater zest and, it appeared, freshness than their hosts.
From the moment on-loan fullback Kyle Walker sped down the right wing to force a corner from which Matt Connolly headed wastefully over, they looked likely winners.

In the groove: QPR's Adel Taarabt, holds off a challenge from Luke Hyam

That corner was taken by Adel Taarabt, all feints, flicks and soft-shoe shuffle. The Moroccan can create space for himself even as he stands still, so deft is he at selling an upper-body dummy.
It was the willing Mackie who made the initial breakthrough. Twisting in the penalty area, his first shot was blocked by a combination of Tommy Smith and Mark Kennedy, but there was no denying the calmness of the Rangers striker to move the ball to one side and send the ball into the bottom corner.
That put even greater onus on Ipswich to come forward, although Roy Keane's side is one based more on persistence and power than rapier-like thrust.Slashing defences open is not their style.
Their best opening came when Gareth McAuley let fly with a shot which struck Jason Scotland so squarely that he could neither avoid it, nor turn it goalwards.
Moments later, Rangers demonstrated what can be done with pace and incision. Taarabt led a counter-attack, then slipped the ball through at the perfect moment for Mackie to stride forward, jink this way and that and unleash another low shot past Fulop.
Keane brought on strikers Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin at half-time and 17-year-old Wickham, whose physical presence is reminiscent of the young Alan Shearer, immediately raised spirits at Portman Road by dispossessing Clint Hill and sliding the ball across, only for Carlos Edwards to miscue his shot sideways.
That was their high point. Rangers coasted through the second half and barely needed Helguson's penalty, given when Smith fouled Mackie, to seal the victory. Keane offered honesty, not excuses.
He said: 'It was probably a fair result. We didn't get going, we weren't at our best and good teams take advantage of that. But it's important that we chill out. We have to take this setback. It's what life's about.'


Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1312024/Ipswich-Town-0-QPR-3-Jamie-Mackie-double-Rangers-ease-win-Portman-Road.html?#ixzz0zZs3UA7Q

QPR Official Site

WARNOCK OVERJOYED BY TOWN DISPLAY

Neil Warnock once again cut a thrilled figure after seeing his top of the table Hoops stretch their unbeaten run in the league to six matches.

Jamie Mackie's deadly double in the first half was added to in the closing period by a Heidar Helguson penalty to complete the rout.

And Warnock told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I knew we had to start well today.

"I was delighted when the first goal came, it calmed us down.

"I think that expectations are expectations.

"The fans hadn't had stability at the Club for a long while.

"Amit Bhatia and the directors have been fantastic, they've supported me by letting me bring my own players in and having a bigger squad."

He added: "We had a lot of flair players and a lot of skill last season, but we didn't have the bread and butter players.

"Whilst Jamie Mackie, Adel Taarabt and a few others will get the praise, I look at players like Kaspars Gorkss and Shaun Derry as the bread and butter players.

"I thought Matt Connolly was ten out of ten, I don't reckon they'll be a better performance than his tonight.

"We played very well. I don't think anybody could have coped with the way we played tonight."

www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2154243,00.html

Town suffer humbling defeat
www.greenun24.co.uk:80/ipswich-town/town_suffer_humbling_defeat_1_649330?

Town’s unbeaten record was left in tatters by a first-half brace from on-fire striker Jamie Mackie, and a second-half penalty from strike-force partner Heider Helguson.

It was one-way traffic all night, and Town ended a well-beaten side.

“It was a fair result, I don’t think we turned up tonight,” confessed Keane.

“We never got going and the second goal killed the game for us. We took a few gambles in the second half. We weren’t at our best and full credit to QPR.

“They took advantage of that and they did a good job on us. That’s what good teams do.

“I’m not annoyed. But you have to take your medicine and we have to take it tonight,” added Keane.

The one bright spot for Town was the performance of Connor Wickham, who came on as a second-half substitute to make his first home appearance of the season following an ankle injury.

Wickham tried his best to spark Town into life, but he faced a losing battle due to a lack of support.

Keane continued: “It was that sort of night when I don’t think too many of my players can say that they were at their best.

“Marton (Fulop) made some good saves and Connor (Wickham) did well when he came on, but other than that we all only looked like we were running at 90%. We gave QPR a helping hand, because we didn’t really test them. We didn’t earn the right to play tonight.

“Our one or two chances were only half-chances and we probably didn’t deserve that little bit of luck because I don’t think we did enough in the game.

“We’re not good enough to get away with that. But it’s important now that we chill out and stay relaxed. I don’t think we’re a bad side, and there’s a long way to go yet,” added Keane.

"Amit Bhatia and the directors have been fantastic, they've supported me by letting me bring my own players in and having a bigger squad."

Thanking for letting him to spend, of course.

Thanking for "letting me bring my own players in" - Well most clubs that would be the norm! Says a lot about what went on before!

Some very good photos here www.zimbio.com/pictures/SFQgJtCSC_P/Ipswich+Town+v+Queens+Park+Rangers/RMfMlLvB6J8