Ipswich 2 - Qpr 1: Tractor Boys leave it late to come from behind and sink Rangers

AN INJURY-TIME goal from captain Luke Chambers snatched Ipswich a 2-1 come-from-behind win over QPR to maintain their play-off push.

 

Luke Chambers scored in injury time to give Ipswich the win

 

A 77th-minute equaliser from Jonathan Douglas - Ipswich's first home goal in more than 290 minutes - cancelled out Junior Hoilett's close-range header which gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Just as the match seemed to be heading for a draw, Freddie Sears' deep cross was met perfectly by the onrushing Chambers and he sent a header into the bottom corner to earn Town three precious points.

A dismal first half saw very few chances, with Chambers' low cross being directed goal-wards by QPR centre-back Grant Hall but into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Rob Green.

The best chance of the half came in injury time. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the stand-out performer for either side in the first half, took a deep corner and with Green crowded out by a sea of bodies, Chambers rose to head the ball just wide of an unguarded net.

 

QPR took the lead in the third minute of injury time when Leroy Fer's brilliant cross was headed home by Hoilett from close range.

Clearly buoyed by his late goal, the winger twice went close to adding to his tally straight after the interval but fired a low shot wide and then was prevented a run on goal by Tommy Smith.

Ipswich striker Brett Pitman was denied an equaliser 10 minutes after the restart when the he met Chambers' cross with a brilliant first-time shot which hit the outside of the far post.

QPR went close to adding a second when Fer was sent clear by Matt Phillips but while he rounded Dean Gerken, he was unable to find a way past the backtracking Ipswich keeper and the two defenders on the line - Cole Skuse eventually clearing the ball from danger.

 

Junior Hoilett had given QPR the lead, but it was cancelled out with 13 minutes left

 

Within seconds, a lightning counter-attack by the home team saw Sears race on to Pitman's ball but he was halted by QPR full-back Paul Konchesky who was shown a yellow card with home fans and players baying for a red.

With Ipswich now playing with four in attack, Sears burst clear and his low centre across goal was brilliantly turned away by the sliding Nedum Onuoha.

Ipswich grabbed the equaliser 13 minutes from time when sub Ryan Fraser and Sears combined, the latter's low cutback turned towards goal by Daryl Murphy and Douglas got the final touch with an overhead-kick past the stranded Green.

The game had finally come to life, with Fraser volleying a 20-yard shot just wide and Onuoha's downward header turned around the post by Gerken.

And it was settled in the second minute of injury time when a short throw led to Sears' deep cross and Chambers raced in to head home the winner.