Ipswich Town v Queens Park Rangers preview and match thread

[Magicmark]

3-0

[phily bon bon]

Well done again, that's much more like it. Why do I get the feeling normal service will be resumed next. You can never tell which Ipswich side will turn up on any given day.

[Bluemike]

So the rollercoaster of emotions supporting ITFC just took another massive turn, this time for the better. I did say in an earlier post that it is what we do that will define the outcome and so it proved. While there is still some way to go and things still to work on this was without doubt so much better than last weeks garbage. The starting line up raised a few queries and concerns but i was more than happy to see Johnathon Douglas in for Bish and Luke varney up front in place of Sears, I have never had a problem with JD and Skuse in the same team providing those around them do their jobs better and Douglas is given more of a free role to get forward at times, today that was the case.

The first 45 offered little by way of clear cut chances at either end but what was evident to me was the work rate of Town, clearly so much better than last weeks effort, closing down every ball, pressing QPR further up the pitch, getting in blocks and tackles. The opening goal was the first real effort by either side and the much improved Grant Ward was on hand to fire it home at the second attempt, a little bit of fortune going our way for a change. We almost got caught straignt after scoring but this time Skusey got back to avert the danger. Our only other real good chance of the first half saw Berra get his head to a cross but he put it wide. QPR then had their best chance of the half when washington burst into the box but Bart rushed off his line to make a fine save which was just as well as it stemmed from his poor throw out in the first place. Quite how Perch wasn't sent off on the stroke of HT was baffling to everyone, having already received a yellow card he left Knudsen in a heap after sending him crashing into the hoardings but as usual the ref bottled it.

The second half started pretty even but Ten minutes in Smithies made a heck of a howler to gift us the crucial second goal, Varney on hand to roll the ball into an empty net after a good ball over the top from Douglas which the keeper totally missed as he rushed off his line to clear, it was no more than the big man deserved as he had chased down every ball right from kick off and worked the QPR back line well. From that point it was mostly Town on the attack and the third goal arrived around the hour mark courtesy of a neat finish from Tom Lawrence who curled his effort from the edge if the box just inside the post. From this point it was pretty much Town creating chances, Skuse had a long range effort saved, a freekick from Lawrence eluded everyone and missed the post by inches, Didsy curled one wide when he should have hit the target. QPR did hit the post with a header as the game neared the end but it was twon who were catching them at will and creating a chance every time we went forward, Sears had Two efforts saved and Didsy tried to be smart and lob the keeper when it was easier to roll it along the ground, Smithies clawing it away to safety, just prior to that Ward had the best chance of the lot when clean through but again the keeper pulled off a very good save to tip it around the post.

Bart (7) Chambers (6) Berra (6) Webster (7) Knudsen (6) Ward (8) Skuse (7) Douglas (7) Lawrence (7) Varney (7) McGoldrick (7) SUBS :- Sears (6) Best (6)

To sum it up it was a good solid, workmanlike performance, there were no stand out performers but a good team effort, I edged towards Grant Ward as my MOTM as I have given him some stick of late but like many of his teammates he came out and got stuck in and looked like he wanted to win today. Douglas & Skuse broke up so much play and were cutting out through balls, Webster is a must in our defence, his mere presence makes such a difference and brings confidence to those around him. Luke Varney came in and worked his socks off, chasing everything, closing down, winning headers, you name it, he deserved his goal. I asked for some improvement and passion in the next three games and we got it today, at no point did we try to sit back, we kept looking to attack, credit to QPR as there were a couple of spells that they pushed us back but we rode it out fairly comfortably. Taking all the Smithies saves during the second half in to account it could so easily have been 6-1 today. Still plenty of things to improve on but a positive saturday evening this week. Bring on Bristol City.

[Charnwood]

A very welcome and heartening read Mike, this has made my Saturday evening. What baffles me is the huge difference in performance and work rate compared with last week, what do you think it is that brought about such an improvement or could it be as simple as the team being knocked off plan by conceding such an early goal v Forest.

Can't wait for next weekend, what a difference a week makes.

Well done Mick, well done Town, credit where it's due.

[marko69]

Am I reading that right? 3-0? Obviously not the Ipswich Town FC I watched last Saturday night! Holy shoot, I thought SKY results had made a mistake.

Very well done indeed,...... and however this team play from week to week, relegation just isn't going to happen. Will read the fan reports tonight when home. Cheers

[Bluemike]

A very welcome and heartening read Mike, this has made my Saturday evening. What baffles me is the huge difference in performance and work rate compared with last week, what do you think it is that brought about such an improvement or could it be as simple as the team being knocked off plan by conceding such an early goal v Forest.

Can't wait for next weekend, what a difference a week makes.

Well done Mick, well done Town, credit where it's due.

it's hard to know Andy but MM has said the very early goal just knocked us for six and ruined our game plan, I think there is a lot of truth in that, add to that a big lack of confidence at home with fans getting on players backs and it is a recipe for failure. There was a definite lack of effort in certain things last week, I.E. workrate which is very unusual for a Town team, hopefully it was "one of those days" as we played well at Sheff Wed too so who knows. Fingers crossed we kick on now and build on it at Bristol.

[herforder]

Three goals, clean sheet, and a pumped up MM rightly praising a much better performance and welcome 3 points, whilst having a not so subtle dig at critical supporters! Normal service resumed.....; well, let's face it, having been subject to some vitriolic criticism following the NF game, can you blame him? (Many no doubt will).

Enjoy the win, take time off from over-critical analysis, and hope it restores some confidence and belief to carry forward to BC next week.

A little gleam of light cutting through the gloom. Grab it quick!

[goldandblack]

great result for you boys today and well done, less said about us the better.

[arana peligrosa]

Only goes to show what the team can produce when they set their minds to it. Believed before time this was winnable but to score three without reply is a score that provides some level of encouragement.

The team blows hot and cold, you never know what's coming from one week to the next, but there will be positives to take from today and in Bristol City next game, the opportunity is there to add further points. Pity the team can't produce something like today each and every game but take the opportunity to thank the players in providing something uplifting after the disappointments of recent weeks.

[bluepeter]

One happy chappy in West Suffolk...certainly makes the weekend.A big F**k of roast on Sunday makes all the difference.COYB.

[Dubai Blue]

Really happy with the result of course. As someone said earlier in the thread there is no point in being all analytical as small bits of luck or errors are often the difference between sides at this level. I always believe that in sport you get the luck you work for and from what I'm reading and saw last time out online the last two games demonstrate that extremely well.

Absolutely happy for MM to rub it in with the fans a little bit. I totally defend their right to complain and boo after games when it's called for but that door swings both ways. Another couple of wins and it will just be the regular MM banter that we all enjoy.

Let's make it 3 in a row and give Birmingham something to think about. Not to mention the Budgies.

BTW isn't it nice to have Varney & Best back. Gives us the chance to freshen things up a bit up front. And with Pitman on the way back too it's going to get highly competitive up front soon. That's something we really have been missing IMO.

[Tangfastic]

Bloody hell 3-0. Where did that come from?

You have to give MM credit as he takes enough crap. I think he does deserve criticism as he's seriously stubborn and I don't agree with the loyalty shown to some players. However, when you bring in players and they give you a 3-0 performance... then it's his gloat day. Can't say I was happy to see Douglas back, but it's obvious Mick wants him there. Expect to see him there for a good while.

Great result.... not convinced we've got the consistency in us yet. Every result now is hard to predict.

[derick_ipsw]

Town win scum lose....PERFECT!!

[marko69]

Town win scum lose....PERFECT!!

AW FFS man, Scum this, Scum that, ......., oh sorry, we've done that already eh? Sorry. Proceed.

[Bluemike]

Rossi ??? You were saying ???

Well I fully expect a different attitude this week, and I think we will stroll it and score at least 3.

Hallam ??? You were saying ???

Expect Douglas and Skuse to team up again in MF to make us "solid"

Herforder ??? You were saying ???

So, time tomorrow for the players to match the post-match spiel with a performance to show they are capable of playing football worthy of C'ship standard, and worthy of wearing the shirt of our club. I want to see passion, commitment and belief, and a determination not to be beaten. We'll see!

Some good accurate quotes there, even if a couple were a tad on the sarcastic side LOL.

[herforder]

Was delighted that they ticked all the boxes that made yesterday's performance and result so welcome. Of course it wasn't the most technically perfect, and our limitations remain. But what's good is to see individuals maximising their strengths, in terms of effort and application, rather than get dragged down by their limitations.

[hallamblue]

great result for you boys today and well done, less said about us the better.

to quote MM ...it's just a bad day at the office. Wolves will bounce back I'm sure of that.

[hallamblue]

Town win scum lose....PERFECT!!

AW FFS man, Scum this, Scum that, ......., oh sorry, we've done that already eh? Sorry. Proceed.

pmsl. He's allowed the occasional slip up........as for scum slipping up. That's 5 in a row now. Keep it up budgies.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Rossi ??? You were saying ???

Well I fully expect a different attitude this week, and I think we will stroll it and score at least 3.

Hallam ??? You were saying ???

Expect Douglas and Skuse to team up again in MF to make us "solid"

Herforder ??? You were saying ???

So, time tomorrow for the players to match the post-match spiel with a performance to show they are capable of playing football worthy of C'ship standard, and worthy of wearing the shirt of our club. I want to see passion, commitment and belief, and a determination not to be beaten. We'll see!

Some good accurate quotes there, even if a couple were a tad on the sarcastic side LOL.

hahaha - yes I am so pleased to have been proved wrong on this occasion.
Whether we can keep it up or not will be proved over the next few weeks - I hope we can but I feel there's a few more twists yet.

[Charnwood]

Talking of our feathered friends, they're now 5 defeats in a row and only 3 points ahead of Town. By the time we play them in Feb it could be very interesting.

[goldandblack]

great result for you boys today and well done, less said about us the better.

to quote MM ...it's just a bad day at the office. Wolves will bounce back I'm sure of that.

trouble is Hallam we have a new manager every couple of months running our Office, over 27k at the Mol Sat to witness another new era. that's 3 new era's this season already. but I still think we will win this league. but perhaps not by Christmas..

[Bluemike]

A classic example of how a change of manager is not always the right answer.

[goldandblack]

A classic example of how a change of manager is not always the right answer.

your right Mike, we are on our 6th manager since Mick left, from the Prem to Div 1 and back to relegation candidates this season. but we are Wolves and that's how we go.

Mick hasn't turned into a bad manager overnight, stick with the big man.

[hallamblue]

great result for you boys today and well done, less said about us the better.

to quote MM ...it's just a bad day at the office. Wolves will bounce back I'm sure of that.

trouble is Hallam we have a new manager every couple of months running our Office, over 27k at the Mol Sat to witness another new era. that's 3 new era's this season already. but I still think we will win this league. but perhaps not by Christmas..

What's happening at Wolves appears to happen a lot in football these days....... all in the pursuit of promotion to the Promised Land.

Although many Town fans have wanted MM and Evans gone, Town are perhaps lĺare a freak of nature in that we historically have rarely hired and fired to follow a dream. This is often frustrating but it also means ITFC is a uniquely stable Club, albeit with a frustrated fan base.

Maybe the words , " be careful what you wish for" does ring true. Personally I curse the day sky TV bought the rights to our game. They have ruined it.

[Quasar]

Talking of our feathered friends, they're now 5 defeats in a row and only 3 points ahead of Town. By the time we play them in Feb it could be very interesting.

thought it was SIX defeats in a row

[hallamblue]

7 if you include cup games apparently.

Either way they have a couple of easier games coming up which allows them to get back on track, unfortunately!