Ipswich Town

vs

Queens Park Rangers

Preview

Ipswich Town

• Ipswich Town have won 13 of their 22 home Championship matches this season, losing once (D8).
• Ipswich Town have slipped a little in recent weeks with one win, three draws and one defeat in their last five.
• McKenna’s side have played some of the most dynamic and high-tempo soccer in the league this term and their aggressive pressing and vertical style from the flanks is a hallmark of his approach.

Queens Park Rangers

• Queens Park Rangers have struggled on the road in the Championship, losing nine of their 22 away matches (W6, D7).
• QPR’s 0.95 goals per game away, and they concede 1.50 per away match.
• The R’s are a much more measured outfit with a central control base and the ability to adapt to games with a structured press and vertical midfield play.
• Julien Stephan has made some positive changes since taking charge at Loftus Road, but there is an air of pragmatism to his approach, which is understandable given QPR’s mid-table standing.

Head-to-Head

Key Players

• Ipswich Town’s Jack Clarke is on a very decent scoring run for the Tractor Boys with two goals in his last five Championship appearances, and has 16 in 45 this term.
• QPR’s Richard Kone has the most goals on the R’s chart this term with ten in 43 Championship appearances, but he is generally their main outlet when they are on the break and they can be very blunt when in possession.

Betting Insights

• Backing Ipswich Town to win at 1.23 is the only option at the current prices as QPR are rightful big long shots, although there is a case to be made that they should be even bigger underdogs than they are.
• Town have conceded just 17 goals in their 22 home games, so there is a good chance that the R’s will be stifled in this one.
• These two teams have contrasting philosophies, so it could be a chess match, but Town’s aggressive pressing should dictate the pace, which makes us lean towards the ‘Both teams to score - No’ market at 1.8.

Prediction