Queens Park Rangers put an end to Ipswich Town's nine-match unbeaten streak this evening with a comfortable 3-1 win at Portman Road.
Dean Gerken produced a world-class save to deny Charlie Austin in the first half, but the Ipswich keeper could do nothing about the opener as Niko Kranjcar curled his shot into the bottom corner seven minutes after the restart.
Gerken was then at fault for the second as he parried the ball into the path of Gary O'Neil, who had a simple finish, before Armand Traore pounced on a Tommy Smith mistake to kill the game off in the 75th minute.
The hosts did get a goal back in stoppage time of the second half, and it was a memorable one as Smith acrobatically volleyed home a corner to make it 3-1.
You can read how an entertaining 90 minutes unfolded with Sports Mole's live play-by-play coverage below.
Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the Championship encounter between Ipswich Town and Queens Park Rangers at Portman Road. We have already seen one remarkable match in the Championship today as Sheffield Wednesday thrashed Yorkshire rivals Leeds 6-0, so hopefully we will be in store for another one here!
We'll start by looking at our hosts, so are enjoying a fruitful spell of form at the moment. They are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions and have only lost one of their last 13 games. In fact, only the league's top two teams, Leicester and Burnley, have won against Mick McCarthy's men since September 22.
That may not bode too well for them considering they are going up against a side third in the league today, but the Tractor Boys will certainly go into this match full of confidence. They are currently sixth in the Championship table, leading the way in a tight race for the final playoff spot as things stands. Six teams are currently within three points of sixth place in the league, but things are in Ipswich's hands at the moment.
Mick McCarthy's men certainly know where the goal is this season, having found the net 36 times in their 24 matches. That is a tally that only Leicester, Derby and Middlesbrough can beat so far this season, so it is one that the hosts can be justifiably proud of. Goals are, of course, the most important part of the game, and if Ipswich can keep scoring them with such regularity, then they will be challenging for a playoff spot at the end of the season.
Things aren't quite so good at the other end of the pitch, however, as Ipswich's defensive record isn't as impressive as the teams around them. Only Derby in the top seven have conceded more goals than Ipswich's 27 this season. That is not a huge tally of goals conceded in 24 games, but considering those around them in the table are better in that respect, it is something that McCarthy will be looking to improve on.
Ipswich may be unbeaten in a long time, but they have struggled to win games recently. They have drawn five of their last six matches, with four of their last five games finishing 1-1. Their last three home matches have also finished with that scoreline, although they have not lost in front of their own fans in their last five matches. In fact, they have lost just three times at Portman Road all season, two of which came against the top two teams.
QPR, for a long time, were among those top two teams, and they could return to the automatic promotion spots with a win this afternoon. Leicester have pulled away at the top, but QPR are still just one point behind second-placed Burnley and could reduce the deficit to top spot back to five points today.
Their overall record this season is very impressive and Harry Redknapp has made his team incredibly hard to beat. Only Burnley have lost fewer games than QPR this season, while only leaders Leicester have won more than the Hoops' 13 victories. However, that form has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks and they have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, including a heavy 4-0 defeat against Everton in the FA Cup last Saturday.
It is clear where QPR's problems lie, and Redknapp has already spoken of his intention to address their shortcomings in the January transfer window. QPR simply haven't scored enough goals this season, with an overall tally of just 26 in 24 league games. That is the lowest total in the top 10, which is a poor record for a side expected to gain automatic promotion this season. Only seven teams in the entire division have scored fewer, while Redknapp's side have failed to score in five of their last seven matches.
With the strikers not putting the ball in the back of the net at one end of the pitch, it is vital that QPR have a solid defence at the other end, and that is exactly what they do have. They have conceded just 14 goals in the league this season, unsurprisingly the best record in the division. They have kept 14 clean sheets so far this season, again a league-high, and actually kicked off a run of eight-straight clean sheets with a win over Ipswich at Loftus Road in August.
QPR's away form is a real concern for Harry Redknapp, and so it should be. They need to improve in that respect if they are to challenge for automatic promotion, having picked up just seven points from the last 24 available on their travels. They have won just one of their last nine away matches in all competitions, with that solitary success coming against Blackpool on December 14.
IPSWICH STARTING XI: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell; Hyam, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Anderson; McGoldrick, Taylor
IPSWICH SUBS: Loach, Mings, Edwards, Tabb, Hunt, Lee, Nouble
QPR STARTING XI: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto; Barton, Carroll, Benayoun, O'Neil, Kranjcar; Austin
QPR SUBS: Murphy, Onuoha, Traore, Phillips, Wright-Phillips, Henry, Johnson
PREDICTION: Right, we're nearing kickoff at Portman Road, which means that it is time for my match prediction! This is a tricky one to call as both sides are very hard to beat, but Ipswich do go into the game in better form and with home advantage. It is an interesting match between two promotion candidates, but I think they will cancel each other out today. I'll go for yet another Ipswich 1-1 draw.
QPR boast the better record between these two sides in recent times. They have won their last three matches against the Tractor Boys without conceding a goal, last losing this fixture 2-1 in February 2010. Earlier this season they scraped a 1-0 win over Mick McCarthy's men, while in the last match between these two at Portman Road QPR won 3-0.
The teams are out and we're just about ready to go here. What a match we have in prospect between two high-flying Championship sides.
KICKOFF: Ipswich get us underway for this match. Can they keep up their unbeaten record of late or will QPR put their FA Cup exit behind them at Portman Road this afternoon? Phil Dowd is the man in the middle for this match.
Carroll whips a vicious delivery into the box which finds Benayoun momentarily unmarked in the middle. He is not famed for his heading ability, and shows why here as he flicks his effort a few yards over the top.
Ipswich enjoy a really good spell of possession as they knock the ball about nicely, patiently probing for a way through an organised QPR defence. The hosts will have to be patient if they are to win this game, as QPR don't give goals away easily.
It has been a solid start to this match from both teams, as expected. I'm not anticipating too many chances in this game for either side as they don't concede many goals, while QPR in particular don't score many either.
UPDATE: The first Championship goal from the 3pm kickoffs has gone the way of Wigan, who have taken the lead against Bournemouth courtesy of a Marc-Antoine Fortune strike.
Hill gives the ball away on a rare foray down the left flank and Ipswich have a chance to break away with the ball. They have a two-on-two situation, but some fine defending from the visitors sees them win the ball back quickly and the danger passes.
UPDATE: Reading have taken the lead against Watford in a match that began just a little later than most of the games this afternoon. Kaspar Gorkss got the goal that has put the Royals 1-0 up at Vicarage Road.
We're still waiting for this match to really get going at the moment. We haven't had any major action in either attacking third and neither keeper has had a save to make so far. It has been a cautious opening from both teams as they look to settle into the game.
Barton swings a corner towards the near post but no-one can get on the end of it and it bounces through to the keeper, who holds on to it. That is as busy as either keeper has been so far today.
Barton has another corner moments later and puts in an almost identical delivery that is cleared by McGoldrick this time. Neither cross has been very good from Barton, but the fact that two very similar ones have come in quick succession suggests that it is a pre-planned routine from the visitors.
Chambers pounces on a loose ball to bursts past Assou-Ekotto before leaving it for McGoldrick. The striker only has one thought in his mind and goes for goal from range, but he can't keep his effort down as it flies well over the crossbar.
Things have just opened up for Ipswich on a couple of occasions in the last few minutes. Taylor is the latest to go for goal from range, but his effort is well blocked by the QPR defence.
Assou-Ekotto gets away with one there. He tries to be clever in defence but Skuse is having none of it, and stays right on top of the loanee left-back. Assou-Ekotto ends up just knocking it behind for a corner, but the linesman somehow saw it as a goal kick, much to the dismay of Skuse.
UPDATE: Burnley have taken the lead at Huish Park, which is bad news for QPR. Danny Ings has given the Clarets a 1-0 advantage over Yeovil Town.
YELLOW CARD! Hyam becomes the first man in Phil Dowd's notebook for a cynical tug back on Joey Barton. Those are always going to draw cautions, so the Ipswich man can have no complaints with that one.
CHANCE! Huge chance for the hosts to take the lead. Chambers comes forward and plays it inside before getting it back via a deflected pass off Hill. He hammers the ball towards goal from close range, but Green makes a vital stop to deny him. A goalmouth scramble ensues with Hyam involved before Barton finally pokes it away and QPR clear the danger. How did that one not go in?!
That was by far the best chance of the match so far, and Ipswich really should have taken advantage of it. They had a couple of good chances in that phase of play but, as is often the case with goalmouth scrambles, the ball just would not go in.
QPR are seeing plenty of the ball, but they aren't using it in positions that can hurt Ipswich. Apart from that scramble, both defences have been fairly comfortable so far and it is hard to see where an opening goal may come from.
Anderson has a bit of space to run into for Ipswich but he is eventually crowded out with McGoldrick screaming for the ball inside the box. QPR go up the other end and threaten through O'Neil, whose low, tempting cross across the face of goal was put behind for a corner.
McGoldrick is beginning to look dangerous now. He picks up the ball midway into the QPR half and immediately runs at Simpson. He works an angle to shoot on his left foot but Simpson stand up well and gets the block in to send it behind for a corner.
WHAT A SAVE! What a superb save from Gerken, how has he kept that one out?! The ball was stood up into the middle and Austin rose highest to plant a firm header towards goal from just a couple of yards out. Gerken is tracking back across goal but somehow manages to reach a hand up and claw the ball over for a corner. You'll do well to see a better save this season.
From the resulting corner Ipswich break away through Taylor and almost take the lead at the other end. He ran a long way with the ball before cutting inside his man in the box, but his eventual shot was blocked just in front of Green. This match has certainly come to life now.
GREAT DEFENDING! Austin was denied by a superb save moments ago, and now he is denied by a fine piece of defending. The QPR striker raced through on goal and looked like he only had Gerken to beat, but he was denied at the last second by a fine last-ditch challenge.
QPR have a free kick in a very good crossing position, and this time Assou-Ekotto is the man charged with delivering it into the box. Ipswich fail to deal with it first time round and the ball very nearly drops to Austin for a simple finish, but Gerken is alert to clear it off his toes with a vital interception.
QPR SUB: The visitors are forced into an early change as Joey Barton goes down with an injury and will not be able to continue. He limps off to be replaced by Karl Henry.
Both sides will be fairly happy with their first-half performance in this match. They have both seen a decent amount of the ball and crafted one really good chance apiece that they should have scored from. Overall, it has been an even encounter so far.
SAVE! Anderson drills a bobbling effort towards goal that Green comfortably stops but can't hold on to. He spills it into a dangerous area and McGoldrick is on his toes looking for the rebound, but Green recovers just in time to collect at the second attempt.
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time at the end of this first half.
UPDATE: Blackburn have broken the deadlock late in the first half of their match against Doncaster, Gestede giving his side the lead at Ewood Park.
HALF TIME: Ipswich 0-0 Queens Park Rangers
Phil Dowd brings an end to the first half with the sides still level having not troubled the scorers in the opening 45 minutes. Quite how it is still 0-0 is beyond me as, despite not having a lot of good chances in the first half, both teams have had one that they really should have scored. Still we remain goalless in what has been an even encounter so far.
The moment of the match so far was undoubtedly provided by Ipswich keeper Dean Gerken, who pulled off one of the saves of the season to deny Charlie Austin's header from close range. The QPR striker could not have done much more with his header and looked for all the world as if he would score, but Gerken somehow managed to claw the ball over the bar with a magnificent stop.
It was really a save worth watching for yourselves, but for now perhaps this picture can do it a little bit of justice:
Gerken rather stole the show from his opposite number in the first half, as Green had made a fine stop of his own earlier in the match to deny Chambers. The Ipswich man fired his shot towards goal from close range but Green stayed big and made a vital stop. A goalmouth scramble followed the save before Barton finally hacked the ball clear.
Green almost made a costly error at the end of the half when he spilled a long-range Anderson effort into a dangerous area, but he just about recovered in time to claim the ball off the toes of McGoldrick, who was racing in for the rebound.
Other than those chances, there has been little to report in terms of goalmouth action in the match so far. Austin did look to be clean through on goal at one point, but he was denied at the last second by a superb last-ditch tackle. The game has mainly been played in the middle of park, but neither side have been able to dominate the midfield today. Whoever eventually comes out on top in that battle could well go on to win this match.
KICKOFF: QPR get us back underway for the second half at Portman Road. Can either side break the deadlock in the next 45 minutes or will we see another goalless half?
Bright start from the hosts straight away as Taylor fires a low effort towards goal that Green has to deal with. He'd expect to save them all day long, but it is an early statement of intent from the hosts.
Anderson whips a dangerous cross towards the near post with a couple of blue shirts to aim for in the box, but it is just too close to Green, who gets his body behind the ball well. Ipswich have started this half the better.
Ipswich have a free kick in a good position to cross from deep, which should give the big boys from the back a chance to come up.
The delivery is not initially dealt with by the visitors but it doesn't quite fall for the hosts and QPR eventually get it clear before launching a counter attack.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-1 QPR (Niko Kranjcar)
QPR have the lead, and it is a fine solo effort from Kranjcar that breaks the deadlock. He picked up the ball from an Assou-Ekotto throw on the left wing before bursting inside past three blue shirts and placing the ball past Gerken into the bottom corner. That is a fine goal from the midfielder.
Questions should be raised over how easily he got past three players, however. Kranjcar is not the most physical of players, so a bit more strength from any of the Ipswich defenders in close attendance could have prevented that goal.
UPDATE: Nottingham Forest have taken the lead against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium thanks to a Paterson strike.
You'd probably expect QPR to shut up shop a little bit here as they look to defend their lead and claim all three points. They are no strangers to winning 1-0 this season, and Harry Redknapp would be perfectly happy if his side do so again today.
YELLOW CARD! Clint Hill goes into the book for a moment of dissent after Assou-Ekotto was penalised for a foul. That is a needless yellow for the centre-back.
UPDATE: Bad news for Ipswich as Brighton take the lead against Birmingham, which means that the Tractor Boys would slip out of the playoff positions as things stand. Elsewhere, Wigan have doubled their lead over Bournemouth.
QPR are looking more assured in possession now having taken the lead. Ipswich will need to be careful that they don't allow the visitors to become too comfortable in this match as they are still very much in with a chance of getting back into the game.
Assou-Ekotto goes down easily after a tangle with his man, giving QPR a good chance to cross the ball into the area from deep. Forward come the centre-backs, but the delivery is too deep and Gerken collects with ease.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-2 QPR (Gary O'Neil)
Gerken made a sensational stop from Austin in the first half, but this time his save from the striker gifts QPR a second goal. The Ipswich keeper got down well to get a hand to the original effort from Austin, but he failed to push it away to safety, gifting it to O'Neil, who had the simplest of finishes to make it 2-0. Is that game over?
QPR SUB: The visitors make their second change of the afternoon as Armand Traore replaces Yossi Benayoun.
You'd have to think that Ipswich need a goal in the next five minutes, and certainly within the next 10 minutes, if they are to get anything out of this game. All is not lost just yet, but their unbeaten run is in serious danger right now.
IPSWICH SUBS: Anderson's afternoon is over as he is replaced by Frank Nouble, while Hyam also makes way for the hosts as Stephen Hunt comes one. Can that double change make a difference?
Taylor does well to create space to shoot, but his eventual effort is a disappointment as he drags it harmlessly wide of the goal. That second QPR goal seems to have really knocked the stuffing out of the hosts.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-3 QPR (Armand Traore)
That is game, set and match QPR. Hill hoofs an aimless long ball up field and Smith makes a complete mess of dealing with it. That allows Traore to pounce on the mistake and squeeze the ball past Gerken with an untidy finish. It wasn't the most beautiful of goals, but QPR won't care one bit.
The QPR fans must be in dreamland at the moment - they have seen their side score three goals in a single game! That is the first time that has happened this season, and it comes in an away match against a team who went into this one unbeaten in nine games. This will be a huge result for Harry Redknapp's side.
Nice play from Taylor as he twists and turns from 25 yards out to create space for himself to shoot. The shot goes a long way over the crossbar, but the home fans greet his effort warmly as at least he is having a go.
UPDATE: Bolton have levelled things up against Nottingham Forest at the Reebok Stadium. Mills got the goal for the hosts to make it 1-1 in that match.
QPR are playing some nice football at the moment and actually look capable of going on and getting a fourth in this match. Who said that they were struggling for goals this season?!
QPR SUB: Matty Phillips will come on for the final five minutes of this game as he replaces Kranjcar, who opened the scoring for the visitors earlier in this half.
IPSWICH SUB: Chambers is also going to be forced off here as he limps off the field to be replaced by Tyrone Mings. It doesn't look too serious for Chambers, who has probably just been withdrawn as a precaution.
Mings's first action sees him pick up the ball 25 yards from goal, and he immediately gives in to the crowd's urges for his to shoot. His effort looks like a good one, but Richard Dunne is there to block, not for the first time today.
Austin has a half-chance to get his own name on the scoresheet, but again he is denied by Gerken. This time his effort came on the turn from just inside the box, but it was fairly comfortable for the Ipswich keeper.
There will be a minimum of three minutes added time at the end of this match.
GOAL! Ipswich 1-3 QPR (Tommy Smith)
He may end on the losing side, but Smith has something special to remember this match by - what a goal the centre-back has just scored. The corner arrived behind him but he adjusted his body brilliantly and produced a spectacular bicycle kick into the bottom corner. It is too little too late for the hosts, but that is the goal of the game by some distance. Magnificent finish.
FULL TIME: Ipswich Town 1-3 Queens Park Rangers
Phil Dowd blows his whistle for the final time in this match, putting an end to an action-packed second half that saw four goals, three of which came for QPR as they put an end to Ipswich's nine-match unbeaten run. They remain third in the table, but it is a big win for the Hoops as they stay in touch with Burnley and reduced the gap to leaders Leicester back to just five points.
The first half was all about the goalkeepers, with both Green and especially Gerken making very good saves to deny the opposition. However, Kranjcar opened the scoring early in the second half for the visitors and O'Neil added a second after an error from Gerken 14 minutes later. It was game over for the hosts when Armand Traore netted with just 15 minutes of the match remaining, but they did provide one highlight late on as Tommy Smith produced a spectacular bicycle kick to give his side a consolation goal.
The defeat is a costly one for Ipswich, who continue their poor record against the league's top sides this season. They slip out of the playoff position, with Brighton taking their spot in the top six. Still, Mick McCarthy is safe in the knowledge that only the top three teams in the league have beaten them since September 22, so he will be confident that they can return to winning ways soon enough.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a very entertaining game between two Championship high-flyers. I will leave you with our match report and be sure to stick around for any reaction from either camp. If you want more live football, our coverage of Manchester United vs. Swansea is now underway, but from me it is time to say goodbye!
