MAX: FLOWERS IS BLOOMING GOOD FOR ME
Boss Paul is feeling the heat as Tractor Boys suffer another flat
MAX O’LEARY believes former England keeper Tim Flowers helped him bloom.
The 22-year-old made an impressive league debut for Bristol City – keeping Brentford at bay and notching up an important clean sheet.
But earlier this year the thirdchoice academy product was on loan at National League Solihull Moors, being coached by the former Blackburn and Southampton No.1.
With Niki Maenpaa injured and Frank Fielding recovering from viral meningitis, O’Leary was handed his big chance.
And together with matchwinner Niclas Eliasson (above), who grabbed a late winner, he helped spoil new Brentford boss Thomas Frank’s big day and first match in charge.
The Bees’ hopes were badly hit when Chris Mepham was sent off for two bookings in eight minutes before the hour.
O’Leary, who has also played on loan at Kidderminster and Bath City, said: “I enjoyed playing at Solihull. All I want to do is play, so to get those 23 games with them last year was fantastic.
“I was working under Tim, now the manager, and Mark Yates. Obviously, it sways you when you see Tim Flowers working there.
“He was really good for me and my development, and texted me on Saturday morning to say good luck, and then I spoke to him on the phone before the match.”
Bees defender Yoann Barbet said: “I won’t talk too much about the referee because I don’t want to get banned. But I don’t think it was a second booking.”
BRENTFORD:
Gerken Hemed
THE alarm bells are ringing for Ipswich and under-fire boss Paul Hurst.
Rock-bottom, no wins at home all season and booed off at the end of what Hurst admitted was their worst display since he took charge.
The Tractor Boys are in danger of returning to the third tier of English football for the first time in 62 years.
Owner Marcus Evans has a huge decision to make. Does he persist with Hurst, who was lured away from Shrewsbury in the summer?
Or does he return to the drawing board, just as he did at this stage six years ago when Paul Jewell was axed and replaced by Mick McCarthy?
At that point Ipswich were bottom with seven points from 13 games and they currently occupy the same slot, just two points better off.
Town have been on the slide for years through a clear lack of investment on Evans’ part. He was happy to bring in £10million from the summer sales of experienced stars Martyn Waghorn, Adam Webster and Joe Garner.
But only half as much was spent to recruit 12 new faces from the lower leagues and on loan from the top flight. QPR, who lost their first four games of the season, strolled to a second successive away win.
Luke Freeman’s clever corner was only helped into his own net by Town keeper Dean Gerken in the 13th minute.
Then Tomer Hemed coolly converted from the spot with the last kick of the first half after a crazy tackle by Toto Nsiala sent Eberechi Eze flying. Ipswich defender Matthew Pennington, who is on loan from Everton, said: “We weren’t good enough to win the game.
“We made too many mistakes and they were capitalised on by QPR. At 2-0 down we had a mountain to climb. We know we should have dealt with the corner, but it’s not all down to Gerks.
“Mistakes do happen, but we take the blame as a team and none of us were good enough today. We must pull together to get off the bottom.”
Goal hero Hemed, on loan
MATCH STATS
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from Brighton, was on cloud nine after helping Israel to two wins during the international break.
He said: “We showed from the very first minute that we came here to win the game.
“I know how demanding it is in the Championship, but I am feeling better and improving with every game.”
Rangers could have had further goals but Gerken made a top save from Eze, who also struck the bar.
IPSWICH: QPR: MOTM ATT: LUKE FREEMAN (QPR)