Phillips’ late goal gives QPR elusive home win

QPR 1 Ipswich Town 0

Matt Phillips’ 88th-minute goal gave QPR their first home win under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

New signing Nasser El Khayati came on as a substitute for his R’s debut and set up the winner, finding space on the right of the penalty area and delivering a cross for the unmarked Phillips to head home.

Junior Hoilett was in the thick of the action as Bartosz Bialkowski kept Rangers at bay during a largely one-sided first half.

The Ipswich keeper produced a double save after just 30 seconds, pushing away Phillips’ shot and Massimo Luongo’s follow-up.

And Hoilett missed a great chance when he was unable to find a way past Bialkowski after Phillips’ low cross fell to the Canadian at the far post.

Hoilett then had a long-range effort saved and, on 27 minutes, elected to shoot rather than square the ball for Phillips or Conor Washington, and again Bialkowski made the save.

The lively Hoilett also curled an effort wide of the target five minutes before the break.

Ipswich were much improved after the restart and Brett Pitman had a header saved by QPR keeper Alex Smithies, who also gathered a tame shot from Ryan Fraser.

At the other end, Washington, who was making his full debut, blazed high and wide after cleverly creating some space for himself inside the penalty area.

Otherwise, the hosts struggled to create chances for a spell before eventually taking the lead – although they might have been awarded a penalty when Tommy Smith appeared to pull Grant Hall’s shirt as the Rangers defender tried to get to Phillips’ corner.

Ipswich’s best chances fell to Freddie Sears, who was denied at close range by Smithies three times in the closing minutes.

The Town striker was unable to finish shortly before Phillips’ goal, and Smithies again came to Rangers’ rescue to frustrate Sears twice more in the dying minutes as Ipswich tried in vain to find an equaliser.