Conor Chaplin found the back of the net as Ipswich Town extended their perfect start in the Championship with a 1-0 win against QPR at Loftus Road.
The match started at a ferocious tempo, but chances were hard to come by for either side. Sam Morsy’s composure in midfield helped calm things down, but the hostile atmosphere in West London certainly made things feel uncomfortable.
The first real opportunity came in the 10th minute when the Blues won a corner as Andre Dozzell failed to shepherd a back-pass out for a goal kick. Leif Davis drilled the ball over everyone, allowing Wes Burns to rush in unmarked at the back post and head just wide of Asmir Begovic’s goal.
The hosts had an even better chance less than two minutes later. A mix-up between Janoi Donacien and Luke Woolfenden saw Sinclair Armstrong rob Town of the ball, firing a powerful effort from the left flank off both posts before it was cleared.
It was the first real warning sign that Ipswich received. They reacted by spending an extended period on the ball, going close shortly before the 15-minute mark when George Hirst fired well wide from the edge of the area after a well-worked move down the left.
Unlike the games against Sunderland and Stoke City, this was incredibly open, which proved to be difficult for Town, who came close to going behind in the 18th minute. A pinpoint free-kick from the right landed on the head of Morgan Fox, forcing Vaclav Hladky to tip his looping effort over the bar.
Yellow cards for Paul Smyth and Massimo Luongo slowed things down, but QPR came again on the half-hour mark. Armstrong was afforded too much time in between Woolfenden and Burgess, allowing him to fire a low shot at Hladky, who parried it straight at Ilias Chair. The Moroccan international had a clear sight of goal, but Donacien was able to prevent him from capitalising.
The R’s took control of the momentum soon after, but their end-product was lacking. Chair was able to break through down the left, but his long-range curling effort fizzed just over the roof of the net.
An injury to Janoi Donacien forced Kieran McKenna into a change in the 37th minute, bringing on Harry Clarke for his first Championship minutes of the season, but it did little to change things. Chair was thrust back into the spotlight six minutes before the half-time break, flashing another powerful effort wide of the target from the left.
The final chance of the half came from Leif Davis’ throw-in down the left. It allowed Morsy and Chaplin to combine, playing Hirst into space on the edge of the area. He was unable to keep his shot down, however, firing well over Begovic’s goal.
Town started the second half with sustained pressure in the final third, but they failed to deal with the threat of Amstrong on the counter yet again. This time, he was able to find space between Clarke and Woolfenden, forcing Hladky into a fantastic save from point-blank range in the 51st minute.
They weren't done there, coming again seconds later. Chair's shot deflected off Armstrong in the box, setting up Osman Kakay for the easiest tap-in possible, but he inexplicably missed the target, sparing Ipwich's blushes.
An injury to Armstrong slowed the game down once again, but the Blues came inches away from taking the lead once again when Davis brought the ball forward in the 65th minute. His cross from the left flank picked out Chaplin in the box, but the presence of Kenneth Paal made it impossible for him to find the back of the net.
They started to turn the screw and were unfortunate to not be awarded a penalty five minutes later. A long ball from Davis picked out Hirst in the box, but nothing was given when the striker was manhandled by veteran centre-back Steve Cook in the box.
Town did make them may in the end, however, striking in the 75th minute. Davis' cross found Chaplin in the middle, but his first effort was blocked by substitute Jack Colback. The ball bounced back to him, allowing him to sweep it into the net to give his side the lead.
QPR pushed for a response, coming close in the final five minutes when Chair caught Hladky off his line, chipping the goalkeeper from distance and forcing him to punch it over the bar for a corner.
As the board went up to indicate seven minutes of added time, there was a sense that the R's would be able to turn things around. However, it was Ipswich who came closest, with Begovic only just getting down in time to push Luongo's low shot wide shortly before the full-time whistle.
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Donacien (Clarke 37'); Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Burns (Jackson 82'), Chaplin (Harness 90'), Broadhead (Hutchinson 82'); Hirst (Ladapo 90')
Attendance: 16,790 (3,012 away)
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