QPR manager delighted after Ipswich Town win but admits side had ‘massive stroke of fortune’

QPR manager Ian Holloway was delighted with his side’s 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon, the R’s boss happy his side had stifled Mick McCarthy’s Blues.

An energetic home side were quicker to the ball and stronger in the tackle than Town, and deservedly went two goals ahead, albeith the first goal saw Massimo Luongo handle the ball in the lead-up.

Bersant Celina grabbed a superb late consolation for Ipswich, who suffered their seconod successive defeat in the league, following a home defeat to QPR’s west London neighbours, Fulham, before the international break.

“It was tough, it was close and it was a very good game. There was a period in the first half where we were very open and they were very open and it was very very exciting, but I think the fans helped us,” Holloway said.

“I felt we defended brilliantly today against a team that have been, not free-scoring but have hardly missed.

“They’ve taken nearly every single chance they’ve created, and we haven’t let them create too many, there was only McGoldrick who tried to take Alex Baptiste on, and he didn’t beat him so it was magnificent.

“The group are taking on what I’ve asked them to do which is defend and put their bodies on the line so I’m delighted that we managed to see that through.

“Obviously I’m disappointed with the goal because we can’t keep backing off. I had it when I first came here with the Norwich game, I’d never seen anyone go so deep, but the crowd stayed with us, the boys are happy in there and now we have to get ready for Tuesday.”

Jamie Mackie’s opener was shrouded in controversy with Holloway agreeing with his opposite nuber McCarthy, that there was a blatant handball by Luongo in the lead-up.

“We had a massive stroke of fortune where the referee should have seen a handball by Massimo Luongo,” Holloway added.

“I’d be fuming if I were Mick McCarthy. We (managers and officials) had a meeting in the summer and talked about game-changing moments – well if that’s not a game-changing moment I don’t know what is.

“We were on the half way line and the ball popped up off Mass (Luongo), I think he’s just moved it with his hand past the bloke it was going to hit, and I thought I could see the movement and thought the fourth official should have seen it, and he should have the power to tell the referee.

“He says he didn’t see it, Mick saw it, I saw it, and that’s one of the ones you get away with. Did I ask him to do it? No. You could did he deliberately cheat, but the referee is paid to look at that and see that.

“Luckily for us today we were able to capitalise on that and then get the second goal. The group is doing what I’ve asked them to. We fought to the end and I’m delighted with the way we managed to see that through.”