Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich Town 
Saturday 19th August 2023 – 15:00
Loftus Road Stadium
Pre Match Thoughts - Mike
Stop the season now !!!!! Two wins, one Hundred Percent record, top of the league and playing sexy Football, yes indeed, the life of a Town fan doesn't get much better than it is right now as we take the step up to a higher level in our stride, not quite sure what all the fuss is about stepping into the Championship.
Of course I jest but Town turned in a superb performance to see off Stoke City at a packed Portman Road on Saturday, the stage was set following a super win at Sunderland on the opening weekend of the season, Portman Road was sold out, the weather was kind and everything prior to kick off just felt right. Boss Kieran McKenna reverted back to the same starting Eleven that took to the field at Sunderland having rested them all in the cup on Wednesday. Stoke were coming into the game on the back of a resounding 4-1 win themselves and were talking the talk in the build up to the game.
It is fair to say that Town came out flying and took the game to the visitors throughout the entire opening Forty Five Minutes. As early as the Third Minute Wes Burns surged through the Stoke defence before unleashing a shot that their keeper did well to fingertip over the bar, it was a move that was to set the tone of the game. Stoke's defence really were all over the place in the opening period of the game as we ran them ragged, corner after corner came and went although Luongo did have an effort which was blocked.
Whenever Stoke did threaten to get a sight of our penalty box Luke Woolfenden an co were on hand to snuff out any danger, so much so that Hladky in Town's goal was having a relatively comfortable afternoon. Midway through the half Town took a well deserved lead from an unlikely source, a free kick from one of the numerous fouls conceded by Stoke saw Woolfy connect with his head from skipper Morsy's ball in to send Portman Road into a deafening frenzy, it really was no more than the impressive Blues deserved.
Instead of a reaction from Stoke it was Town who continued to go on the offensive as they looked to add to their lead, efforts from Broadhead & Chaplin were defended well by the Midlands outfit before Stoke had their first real effort on goal with nigh on Forty Minutes on the clock, Hladky however was equal to the task as he made the save with his leg. With the ref close to blowing for half time George Hirst missed a great chance to double the lead, his shot just going the wrong side of the post. It had been a superb effort by Town and they could probably feel a little hard done by that it was only One goal to show for their efforts, Morsy had been controlling the Midfield while Woolfenden at the back had probably had his best game in a Town shirt for as long as I can remember.
The expectation at half time was that Stoke would come out fired up and that proved to be the case, for all of Five or Ten Minutes anyway, we were pinned back for the first time in the match but still held pretty firm defensively. It wasn't long before Town started to get into their stride again and get back in control of things, several attempts fell to Town but all efforts were straight done the keepers throat as he collected One after another.
With One or Two Town players visibly tiring McKenna made some changes which for me ultimately secured the win, the introduction of Harness & Jackson caused Stoke all manner of problems, Jackson's pace and Harness's terrier like tenacity had Town well on top again, while the brilliant duo of Morsy and Luongo got through bucket loads of good work to keep the Midfield on top. Stoke were having the odd foray forward too but Burgess & Woolfenden were blocking most of what came their way with some superb defending.
Finally with Ten minutes or so remaining Town got the crucial and killer Second goal and what a move it was, several players had a hand in the move before Burns crossed for Kayden Jackson to fire home his first of the season. The place erupted, it was job done and the crowd & Players alike knew it.
There was still time for Town to create more chances with Omari Hutchinson in particular having Two efforts saved but it was job done on a day when Town were excellent for most of the match, apart from Ten minutes directly after half time we looked pretty comfortable apart from the odd Stoke breakaway. This team continue to break records with this unbeaten run and the confidence just grows and grows. Every player in a Town shirt played their part and while I don't have an issue with Sam Morsy taking the MOTM award I personally felt that on the day Luke Woolfenden was fantastic and worthy of it too, others to impress were Luongo, Broadhead, Jackson & Harness, the strength in depth we currently have is incredible.
With no Midweek game this week Town can dust themselves down and recharge their batteries before we hit the road again, this time to the capital and a match up with QPR. The Hoops have had a mixed start to the season having been thumped by Watford on the opening day they then went to Cardiff and pulled off a impressive win to get their season going. Many, myself included have tipped QPR to go down so it will be a tough call to see exactly where they are at present. A certain Andre Dozzell still plies his trade in their Midfield while up front Dykes & Armstrong can be a handfull, another Town old boy Amir Begovic keeps goal for the Londoners so there are some familiar faces there.
Looking at QPR on paper and comparing them with the Two sides we have already beaten I can see nothing to be scared of and we have a great chance of making it Three wins on the spin, of course we must not get too carried away or cocky but the belief has to be there that we can do the business at Loftus Road, Town will be roared on by a Three Thousand strong away following which will make it sound like a home game, Morsy and co against Dozzell and co ? Hmmmm, I know which I prefer. A Town win for me. COYB'S
The Opposition – Queens Park Rangers - Honours
League
First Division
Runners-up: 1975–76
Second Division / Championship
Champions: 1982–83, 2010–11
2nd place promotion: 1967–68, 1972–73
Play-off winners: 2014
Third Division / League One
Champions: 1947–48, 1966–67
2nd place promotion: 2003–04
Southern League
Champions: 1907–08, 1911–12
Western League
Champions: 1905–06
Cup
FA Cup
Runners-up: 1981–82
League Cup
Winners: 1966–67
Runners-up: 1985–86
FA Charity Shield
Runners-up: 1908, 1912
The Manager – Gareth Ainsworth
League Table
Form Guide
Queens Park Rangers
5 Aug Watford 4 - 0 QP Rangers
12 Aug Cardiff City 1 - 2 QP Rangers
Ipswich Town
6 Aug Sunderland 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
12 Aug Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Stoke City
Head to Head
Match Referee – Geoff Eltringham
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
