QPR v Ipswich Town – Preview

QPR welcome Ipswich Town to Loftus Road on Tuesday night with what should prove to be a highly energetic and entertaining fixture. Since the arrival of Paul Jewell, Ipswich have been much improved. The former Wigan boss has guided the Tractor Boys to four wins in eight, and they remain unbeaten in February.

Neil Warnock will be hoping for a more confident performance on Tuesday after the abject outing against Preston, where the R’s surrendered a one goal lead and more importantly dropped two points. The inclusion of Heider Helguson did however, give the R’s a much needed focal point and hopefully the Iceman will be available against Ipswich, as we look a much better team with Heider leading the line.

Last Fixture

Preston 1 (Nicholson 64)
QPR 1 (Helguson 37)

Team: Paddy Kenny, Bradley Orr, Clint Hill, Kaspars Gorkss, Matt Connolly, Shaun Derry, Alejandro Faurlín, Ishmael Miller (Petter Vaagan Moen 61), Adel Taarabt, Wayne Routledge (Ákos Buzsáky 86), Heidar Helguson (Rob Hulse 74)

Ipswich Town 1 (Scotland 58)
Hull 1 (Simpson 85)

Team: Martin Fulop, Gareth McAuley, Damien Delaney, Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards, Lee Martin (Luciano Civelli 83), Andy Drury, Colin Healy, Mark Kennedy, Connor Wickham, Jason Scotland (Tamás Priskin 80)

QPR Team News:

Wayne Routledge and Matthew Connolly are doubts after both picked up knocks against Preston. Tommy Smith is out with a hamstring injury.

Hogan Ephraim remains suspended. Long term absentees Jamie Mackie, Patrick Agyemang and Peter Ramage remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Clint Hill

He may not be blessed with pace but the man is a defender in the truest sense of the word. Hill will battle until the final whistle and is 100% committed to the R`s promotion cause. Neil Warnock has labelled him a “bread and butter player” and after my initial confusion at the term, I can now see what he means.

Hill is technically sound and very competent on the ball but what impresses me most about the former Palace man is his positional sense. Rarely will Hill be found in the wrong place and he always manages to put a foot or head in when needed. The versatile player can play all across the back four and has been inspirational at times with his no-nonsense defending style. When compared to his namesake Matt Hill, Clint feels like a top-class left-back.

Ipswich Town Team News:

Connor Wickham has been giving the go-ahead to play on Tuesday after shaking off a knock. Jimmy Bullard is also fit for selection. Midfielder David Norris is out with an ankle injury.

Possible line-up:

Player to watch: Jimmy Bullard

Jimmy Bullard has been identified by DanielQPR as the player to watch ahead of this week’s match against Ipswich Town.

For Daniel’s comprehensive review of the Midfielder Click Here >>>

The Stat Attack

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: DWWDD
Ipswich Town: WWDWD

HEAD 2 HEAD

Queens Park Rangers: 22
Ipswich Town : 18
Draw: 28

LAST TIME OUT

Coca Cola Championship – 14/09/2010
Portman Road

Ipswich Town 0
QPR 3 (Mackie 31, 42 Helguson 68pen)

Team: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Walker, Kaspars Gorkss, Matt Connolly, Clint Hill, Alejandro Faurlín (Ákos Buzsáky 60), Adel Taarabt (Mikele Leigertwood 36), Shaun Derry, Hogan Ephraim, Heidar Helguson, Jamie Mackie (Tommy Smith 80)

Attendance: 19,931

Ref Watch:

Referee: Mr K Wright

Assistants: Mr J Busby & Mr G Jerden

Fourth Official: Mr F Thompson

Kevin Wright is the match official for Tuesday’s game and has officiated 17 games this season. His most recent game was the match between Coventry and Crystal Palace.

Last season Wright issued 99 yellow cards and 8 red cards in 33 games.

Match Prediction:

QPR have been very strong at home this season and will no doubt be tough to breakdown at Loftus Road. Ipswich will certainly look to stop the R`s from playing their passing game, although that may restrict their own attacking threat. Adel Taarabt tends to perform better at home and I think he is due a good game after a few quiet performances. Ali Faurlin and Shaun Derry will have a tough job on their hands with Jimmy Bullard and Grant Leadbitter, however, I`m confident they can restrict those two from expressing themselves.

I see the game starting out at a fast pace with both teams probing with intent. Ipswich have two decent forwards in Jason Scotland and Connor Wickham and given the chance they could punish us. Ipswich could well look to bypass the midfield and try to hit the two front men (providing they`re playing 4-4-2) at every opportunity. Whether Neil Warnock will want to freshen things up at the back remains to be seen. I think the Ipswich back four is a bit suspect and we could capitalise on their lack of pace with Miller and Routledge.

2-1 Home win.

Next Up

Who: MIDDLESBROUGH

Where: RIVERSIDE STADIUM

When: 26/02/2011 – 15.00