Post by QPR Report on Dec 28, 2009 17:00:38 GMT
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Jon Stead was at the double, as Paul Hart suffered his first loss in charge of Rangers at Portman Road.
The home side took the lead as early as the fourth minute, with Jon Walters prodding home - with the help of a Peter Ramage deflection - past Radek Cerny to open the scoring.
The scoreline remained the same until after the break, where Ipswich sealed the points with two goals from Stead midway into the second half.
First, Stead turned his marker before curling the ball past Cerny on the edge of the area, before it was that man again who followed up an initial shot to ensure a maximum return for Roy Keane's men.
R's manager Hart made two alterations to the side that were victorious at home to Bristol City just two days ago.
Adel Taarabt returned to take up a place in midfield, while Damion Stewart came back into the QPR defence after a one-match suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams.
Akos Buzsaky and Taarabt both started out wide, with skipper Mikele Leigertwood partnering Ben Watson at the heart of the R's midfield.
Wayne Routledge and Jay Simpson headed the QPR attack.
On a bitingly cold Monday afternoon in Suffolk, it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead as early as the fourth minute.
Stern John sent Jon Walters through down the left, before he cut into the area past Peter Ramage and buried the ball - with the help of a deflection off the Rangers full-back - into the back of the net.
Moments later, Taarabt received the ball on midway and drove at the Ipswich defence, before firing just wide of Arran Lee-Barrett's right-hand post.
At the other end, the hosts could - and should - have doubled their advantage when Grant Leadbitter's corner from the right found an unmarked Gareth McAuley, but he could only head wide of the target.
Soon after, Jaime Peters' cross to Walters caused all sorts of confusion when the striker bumped into Cerny from close-range, though Stewart was aware of the danger to clear the ball away to safety.
From the resulting set-piece, Leadbitter put in another superb delivery that was headed just over by Damien Delaney.
Play then switched to the other end, where QPR had their best opportunity to date to score. Good play down the right from the Ramage saw his delivery find the free Taarabt, but he could only head wide.
Rangers won a free-kick down the right moments later, and when Watson's cross found the free-again Taarabt, he missed the target once more - blasting well over the crossbar from just six yards.
The home side were soon back on the offensive. Walters was involved once again, sending Jon Stead away down the left before the striker cut in to shot, but his effort was blocked away by Stewart in the penalty box.
As the half drew to a close, Leigertwood played the ball to Taarabt just past midway before he blasted at goal from well outside the area, but his attempt was caught by Lee-Barrett in the Town goal.
Rangers had the first chance as the second period got underway. Taarabt fed Simpson in the area at a tight angle, but he could only shoot wide of the goal when under pressure from his marker on the right.
Soon after, Watson's corner from the right eventually found its way to Leigertwood on the edge of the area, who blasted well over the crossbar.
At the other end, the Tractor Boys won a free-kick 30-yards out, where Leadbitter shot straight at Cerny.
The R's were helpless only minutes later though, when Town extended their lead to two goals.
Ipswich substitute Owen Garvan played a ball from deep in the 63rd minute up to the edge of the area into the path of Stead, who held off and turned Gorkss with brilliance, before bending the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Stead was then in the thick of the action once again, running at the Rangers defence before cutting in and sending in a curling shot that was straight at Cerny in the QPR net.
Play then turned to the other end, where Taarabt received the ball down on the left before shooting well over the goal.
Before Routledge played in a delicious centre to the newly-introduced Patrick Agyemang, who headed over from close-range for the R's.
It was to be Ipswich's day though, and after Walter broke away and into the area down the right in the 78th minute, his shot was parried into the path of Stead, who struck home for number three.
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris (Colback 54), Peters, Stead, Walters, John (Wickham 75), Rosenior, Edwards (Garvan 54).
Subs not used: Bruce, Counago, McLoughlin, Brown.
Goals: Walters (4), Stead (63 & 78)
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Agyemang 66), Gorkss, Watson, Williams, Simpson, Taarabt (Balanta 78).
Subs not used: Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Taylor, Borrowdale.
Referee: Mr S Tanner
Attendance: 25, 340
www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~47855,00.html
IPSWICH OFFICIAL SITE
A double from Jon Stead and a first-half opener from Jon Walters saw Town finish 2009 on a high with three points at Portman Road.
Walters gave Blues the perfect start with the opener after four minutes and he could have grabbed a second soon after before Adel Taarabt wasted Rangers' best two chances midway through the half.
Stead put Town in command with a superb turn and strike just past the hour and then wrapped up the points with a close range finish - his fifth goal in his last six starts - as Town made it just one defeat in 11 games.
David Norris returned to the side for the first time since sustaining knee ligament damage on the opening day of the season at Coventry, with Walters, Grant Leadbitter and Stern John also included as Roy Keane made four changes to the team that went down at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Jaime Peters' pace was used at left-back to counter the threat of Wayne Routledge and that was tested as early as the third minute when the Canada international did well to thwart the winger as Adel Taarabt threaded a pass through the Town defence.
Seconds later Blues were ahead, John fed Walters down the left and his shot appeared to be deflected off Kaspars Gorkss before beating Cerny.
Stead, cleared to play after Town appealed against his red card at Selhurst Park, almost got on the end of Walters' pass, Gareth McAuley then sending a free header from Leadbitter's corner over the bar.
Walters had a great chance to extend Town's lead on the quarter hour, Peters found him with a superb pass eight yards out but the Blues' skipper couldn't force the ball home.
Damien Delaney headed wide against the club he left to join Town in the summer, Walters showing good strength to carve out an opening for Stead but the frontman's shot was blocked.
Rangers should have been level on 22 minutes, Taarabt failing to find the target with a header from six yards out from Routledge's cross, the same player guilty of another glaring miss a minute later when he volleyed over from a great position following a free-kick from Ben Watson.
Walters had a shot blocked by Tom Williams, McAuley clearing from Jay Simpson at the other end with Taarabt wasting the last opening of an entertaining first-half, almost hitting the corner flag with a 25 yard drive.
Town made a double change on 54 minutes, Norris and Carlos Edwards making way for Jack Colback and Owen Garvan.
Leadbitter curled a free-kick straight at Cerny before Town extended the lead on 63 minutes, Garvan found Stead on the edge of the box and the former England U21 international curled a right footer past Cerny.
Walters had a shot blocked by Williams, QPR then making a first change with Patrick Agyemang on for the ineffective Buzsaky.
Cerny saved well from Stead as Town threatened a third, Arran Lee-Barrett saving low down and comfortably from Peter Ramage's long range effort. Connor
Wickham replaced John for the last 15 minutes, the teenager firing over before Blues made it three, Walters' cross palmed out by Cerny and Stead did the rest from close range.
QPR made a second change with Angelo Balanta on for Taarabt, who faded after a bright first-half but it was Town who continued to carve out openings,
Walters denied by Williams' challenge inside the box and Stead was prevented from grabbing a hat-trick by the outstretched leg of Cerny, the striker then seeing a left foot shot goes inches wide as Blues ended the year in style.
Town: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Peters, Edwards (Garvan 54), Norris (Colback 54), Leadbitter, Walters, John (Wickham 74), Stead. Subs not used: McLoughlin, Bruce, Counago, Brown.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Williams, Routledge, Leigertwood, Watson, Buzsaky (Agyemang 65), Taarabt (Balanta 78), Simpson. Subs not used: Taylor, Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Borrowdale.
Att: 25,349
www.itfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10272~47855,00.html
Jon Stead was at the double, as Paul Hart suffered his first loss in charge of Rangers at Portman Road.
The home side took the lead as early as the fourth minute, with Jon Walters prodding home - with the help of a Peter Ramage deflection - past Radek Cerny to open the scoring.
The scoreline remained the same until after the break, where Ipswich sealed the points with two goals from Stead midway into the second half.
First, Stead turned his marker before curling the ball past Cerny on the edge of the area, before it was that man again who followed up an initial shot to ensure a maximum return for Roy Keane's men.
R's manager Hart made two alterations to the side that were victorious at home to Bristol City just two days ago.
Adel Taarabt returned to take up a place in midfield, while Damion Stewart came back into the QPR defence after a one-match suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams.
Akos Buzsaky and Taarabt both started out wide, with skipper Mikele Leigertwood partnering Ben Watson at the heart of the R's midfield.
Wayne Routledge and Jay Simpson headed the QPR attack.
On a bitingly cold Monday afternoon in Suffolk, it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead as early as the fourth minute.
Stern John sent Jon Walters through down the left, before he cut into the area past Peter Ramage and buried the ball - with the help of a deflection off the Rangers full-back - into the back of the net.
Moments later, Taarabt received the ball on midway and drove at the Ipswich defence, before firing just wide of Arran Lee-Barrett's right-hand post.
At the other end, the hosts could - and should - have doubled their advantage when Grant Leadbitter's corner from the right found an unmarked Gareth McAuley, but he could only head wide of the target.
Soon after, Jaime Peters' cross to Walters caused all sorts of confusion when the striker bumped into Cerny from close-range, though Stewart was aware of the danger to clear the ball away to safety.
From the resulting set-piece, Leadbitter put in another superb delivery that was headed just over by Damien Delaney.
Play then switched to the other end, where QPR had their best opportunity to date to score. Good play down the right from the Ramage saw his delivery find the free Taarabt, but he could only head wide.
Rangers won a free-kick down the right moments later, and when Watson's cross found the free-again Taarabt, he missed the target once more - blasting well over the crossbar from just six yards.
The home side were soon back on the offensive. Walters was involved once again, sending Jon Stead away down the left before the striker cut in to shot, but his effort was blocked away by Stewart in the penalty box.
As the half drew to a close, Leigertwood played the ball to Taarabt just past midway before he blasted at goal from well outside the area, but his attempt was caught by Lee-Barrett in the Town goal.
Rangers had the first chance as the second period got underway. Taarabt fed Simpson in the area at a tight angle, but he could only shoot wide of the goal when under pressure from his marker on the right.
Soon after, Watson's corner from the right eventually found its way to Leigertwood on the edge of the area, who blasted well over the crossbar.
At the other end, the Tractor Boys won a free-kick 30-yards out, where Leadbitter shot straight at Cerny.
The R's were helpless only minutes later though, when Town extended their lead to two goals.
Ipswich substitute Owen Garvan played a ball from deep in the 63rd minute up to the edge of the area into the path of Stead, who held off and turned Gorkss with brilliance, before bending the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Stead was then in the thick of the action once again, running at the Rangers defence before cutting in and sending in a curling shot that was straight at Cerny in the QPR net.
Play then turned to the other end, where Taarabt received the ball down on the left before shooting well over the goal.
Before Routledge played in a delicious centre to the newly-introduced Patrick Agyemang, who headed over from close-range for the R's.
It was to be Ipswich's day though, and after Walter broke away and into the area down the right in the 78th minute, his shot was parried into the path of Stead, who struck home for number three.
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris (Colback 54), Peters, Stead, Walters, John (Wickham 75), Rosenior, Edwards (Garvan 54).
Subs not used: Bruce, Counago, McLoughlin, Brown.
Goals: Walters (4), Stead (63 & 78)
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Agyemang 66), Gorkss, Watson, Williams, Simpson, Taarabt (Balanta 78).
Subs not used: Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Taylor, Borrowdale.
Referee: Mr S Tanner
Attendance: 25, 340
www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~47855,00.html
IPSWICH OFFICIAL SITE
A double from Jon Stead and a first-half opener from Jon Walters saw Town finish 2009 on a high with three points at Portman Road.
Walters gave Blues the perfect start with the opener after four minutes and he could have grabbed a second soon after before Adel Taarabt wasted Rangers' best two chances midway through the half.
Stead put Town in command with a superb turn and strike just past the hour and then wrapped up the points with a close range finish - his fifth goal in his last six starts - as Town made it just one defeat in 11 games.
David Norris returned to the side for the first time since sustaining knee ligament damage on the opening day of the season at Coventry, with Walters, Grant Leadbitter and Stern John also included as Roy Keane made four changes to the team that went down at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Jaime Peters' pace was used at left-back to counter the threat of Wayne Routledge and that was tested as early as the third minute when the Canada international did well to thwart the winger as Adel Taarabt threaded a pass through the Town defence.
Seconds later Blues were ahead, John fed Walters down the left and his shot appeared to be deflected off Kaspars Gorkss before beating Cerny.
Stead, cleared to play after Town appealed against his red card at Selhurst Park, almost got on the end of Walters' pass, Gareth McAuley then sending a free header from Leadbitter's corner over the bar.
Walters had a great chance to extend Town's lead on the quarter hour, Peters found him with a superb pass eight yards out but the Blues' skipper couldn't force the ball home.
Damien Delaney headed wide against the club he left to join Town in the summer, Walters showing good strength to carve out an opening for Stead but the frontman's shot was blocked.
Rangers should have been level on 22 minutes, Taarabt failing to find the target with a header from six yards out from Routledge's cross, the same player guilty of another glaring miss a minute later when he volleyed over from a great position following a free-kick from Ben Watson.
Walters had a shot blocked by Tom Williams, McAuley clearing from Jay Simpson at the other end with Taarabt wasting the last opening of an entertaining first-half, almost hitting the corner flag with a 25 yard drive.
Town made a double change on 54 minutes, Norris and Carlos Edwards making way for Jack Colback and Owen Garvan.
Leadbitter curled a free-kick straight at Cerny before Town extended the lead on 63 minutes, Garvan found Stead on the edge of the box and the former England U21 international curled a right footer past Cerny.
Walters had a shot blocked by Williams, QPR then making a first change with Patrick Agyemang on for the ineffective Buzsaky.
Cerny saved well from Stead as Town threatened a third, Arran Lee-Barrett saving low down and comfortably from Peter Ramage's long range effort. Connor
Wickham replaced John for the last 15 minutes, the teenager firing over before Blues made it three, Walters' cross palmed out by Cerny and Stead did the rest from close range.
QPR made a second change with Angelo Balanta on for Taarabt, who faded after a bright first-half but it was Town who continued to carve out openings,
Walters denied by Williams' challenge inside the box and Stead was prevented from grabbing a hat-trick by the outstretched leg of Cerny, the striker then seeing a left foot shot goes inches wide as Blues ended the year in style.
Town: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Peters, Edwards (Garvan 54), Norris (Colback 54), Leadbitter, Walters, John (Wickham 74), Stead. Subs not used: McLoughlin, Bruce, Counago, Brown.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Williams, Routledge, Leigertwood, Watson, Buzsaky (Agyemang 65), Taarabt (Balanta 78), Simpson. Subs not used: Taylor, Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Borrowdale.
Att: 25,349
www.itfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10272~47855,00.html
