Steve’s in Freeman’s corner over ‘own goal’
QPR boss Steve McClaren hailed Luke Freeman’s dazzling display that dumped Ipswich to the bottom of the Championship table.
Freeman played a big part in both goals as Rangers grabbed their third away win of the season – the same as the whole of last term.
And McClaren was unhappy at the suggestion his side’s
13th-minute opener should go down as an own goal by keeper Dean Gerken.
Freeman swung over the perfect corner which dropped just under the crossbar in a crowded six-yard box.
Gerken flapped at the ball and helped it on its way in and McClaren said: “It’s Freeman’s goal in my book and he should get the credit. It was going straight in.
“Set-plays are very important in this league and we work very hard on them.”
The Hoops increased their lead in first-half stoppage time as Ipswich struggled to clear another expert delivery from Freeman.
Eberechi Eze was about to pull the trigger when Toto Nsiala lunged in to upend him.
Tomer Hemed, on loan from Brighton, sent Gerken the wrong way from the spot to put the visitors firmly in charge.
McClaren’s men almost increased their lead just seconds after the restart.
The buzzing Eze flicked the ball over Luke Chambers’ head but was denied by Gerken, who raced off his line to block him.
Eze was close again when he lobbed Gerken from the edge of the box and the bar came to Ipswich’s rescue.
The Tractor Boys failed to land a single effort on target or force a corner in the first half.
And they were not much better after the break, only Grant Ward’s tame header into the arms of Joe Lumley causing Rangers any real concern.
Ipswich were booed off at the end with manager Paul Hurst still waiting to record a home win since taking charge in the summer.
Hurst said: “We’re obviously in a hole and I understand
100 per cent the frustration. “But we are making it hard for ourselves with the mistakes we are making.”