QPR see off Ipswich to continue march towards play-off places

QPR 3 Ipswich 0

QPR moved closer to the Championship play-off places with another impressive win. 

They scored twice in the space of four first-half minutes at Loftus Road, where Pawel Wszolek netted on the half-hour mark and Joel Lynch headed in Luke Freeman’s left-wing free-kick to double the lead.

And Nahki Wells sealed win with 16 minutes remaining with his fifth goal in his past six matches and his sixth of the season.

Substitute Ilias Chair sent in a low cross from the right and on-loan Burnley striker Wells cleverly turned away from Ipswich defender Luke Chambers before firing home.

Wszolek’s opener was the Polish winger’s third goal in as many home matches and his sixth of the campaign.

It came after Rangers burst forward on the counter-attack and Wszolek pounced on the loose ball to score from close range after Dean Gerken was unable to hold Wells’ swerving shot.

Gerken had been the busier goalkeeper, gathering a low shot from Ebere Eze and pushing over an early free-kick from Freeman.

Freeman then created a chance for Wells, who mis-hit his shot after the Rangers playmaker had cut the ball back from the left.

QPR keeper Joe Lumley was called into action on 23 minutes, diving to his left to deny Jon Nolan, who had been sent clear down the left by a ricochet after a challenge by Massimo Luongo in midfield.

That was a rare attack by bottom side Ipswich, who found themselves two down seven minutes later.

Lumley was also called upon early in the second half, this time to tip away an effort from Ipswich’s on-loan Chelsea youngster Trevoh Chalobah.

But Paul Lambert’s side never looked like mounting a comeback and Wells’ well taken goal ensured it was another miserable trip to west London for the Tractor Boys.

It is now five defeats in six away games for struggling Ipswich, who have failed to score in all five of those losses.

The East Anglian club have now lost on six consecutive visits to Loftus Road but more importantly are in serious danger of dropping into League One.

QPR, on the other hand, have steadily climbed the table since losing their first four league games under boss Steve McClaren – a run which included a 7-1 hammering at West Brom.

Their third win in a row took them up to eighth, just two points away from the top six.