Ipswich Town's incredible year ended with a frustrating goalless draw against QPR on a difficult night at Portman Road.
The Blues created some good chances but struggled to turn the screw against their relegation-threatened opponents, failing to score in a home league game for the first time in more than a year.
Ipswich were forced to make a change after team news was announced, with Nathan Broadhead pulling up in the warm-up. Marcus Harness replaced him in the lineup, adding to the plethora of availability issues that plagued the squad ahead of the match.
It showed a bit in the early stages. Sinclair Armstrong was presented with a good chance to open the scoring from a tight angle, but his shot was saved by Vaclav Hladky. Omari Hutchinson found space to deliver a cross from the right seconds later, but veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was able to catch the ball before it entered the danger zone.
The Blues started to find their feet. A chipped ball from Conor Chaplin found Freddie Ladapo, who beat the offside trap in the sixth minute. However, the striker turned his back to goal in an attempt to find more space instead of pulling the trigger, allowing Begovic to rush off his line and make the save.
Ladapo was presented with another chance three minutes later. A through ball from Harness allowed him to beat the offside trap yet again, but his low effort was pushed over the bar by Begovic. Chaplin went on to test the 36-year-old with his trademark corner shot, but he was able to hold it.
The atmosphere seemed to die down as the match became flat. QPR sparked into life around the 20th minute as Armstrong robbed Brandon Williams of the ball before playing a one-two with Ilias Chair. The striker took aim from the left side of the box, but Hladky stood tall to deny him.
Marti Cifuentes’ side increased the pressure without really turning the screw, although they were inches away from taking the lead just after the half-hour mark. A corner from the left met the head of Steve Cook, with the defender flicking the ball against the far post. It bounced back off the post and rolled over the line without crossing in, allowing Hladky to push it away from danger just in time.
The start to the second half was delayed due to a serious medical emergency in the crowd, with the players returning to the pitch a little over 30 minutes after the half-time whistle. Following a brief warm-up, the match got back underway.
Understandably, the restart was pretty slow. Cameron Humphreys found space down the left in the 54th minute, looping a pinpoint cross onto the head of Ladapo, who fired wide.
Supporters could sense that the game was there for the taking around the hour-mark. A quick one-two between Humphreys and Harness played the latter into the box, but his shot deflected off a defender and the goalkeeper.
Kieran McKenna made a triple substitution to try and capitalise on the momentum, bringing on Harry Clarke, Jack Taylor and Kayden Jackson in the 63rd minute. In the end, it slowed the momentum down and allowed QPR to push up the final third, albeit that they failed to really test Hladky.
A late cameo from debutant Gerrard Buabo lifted the crowd, with the 18-year-old replacing Harness towards the dying stages of the game. In the end, the Blues were unable to find a way through, however, ending 2023 with a stalemate.
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Williams (Clarke 63'), Woolfenden, Burgess, Humphreys; Ball (Taylor 63'), Luongo; Hutchinson (Aluko 87'), Chaplin, Harness (Buabo 87'); Ladapo (Jackson 63')
QPR: 4-3-3: Begovic; Cannon, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Dozzell, Field, Dixon-Bonner (Dykes 64'); Willock (Smyth 46'), Armstrong (Kolli 77'), Chair (Larkeche 77')
Attendance: 29,100 (1,698)
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