QPR 1 Ipswich Town 4 Championship match report: Marcelino Núñez and George Hirst both score twice in first away win of the season

Marcelino Núñez scored two stunning free-kicks as Ipswich Town claimed their first away win of the season with a rampant 4-1 victory against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

The Chilean midfielder struck his first two goals since arriving from East Anglian rivals Norwich City in style, finding the corner from 25 yards just a minute into the second half before repeating the feat 18 minutes later.

Núñez, starting in a more advanced role in the absence of Sammie Szmodics, sent the travelling Blue Army into raptures in the upper tier behind the goal as he twice found the corner of Paul Nardi’s net.

George Hirst also scored twice to take his tally to five for the season, including opening the scoring after just 68 seconds when he headed home after Sindre Walle Egeli burst down the right and found the striker with a pinpoint cross.

His second came in between Núñez’s pieces of magic and was a well-worked team goal that will have pleased manager Kieran McKenna more than any other.

Walle Egeli found former Rangers man Darnell Furlong on the overlap, who lofted a high cross into the path of Hirst to find the net with his head for the second time in the contest.

QPR had levelled during the first half through Rumarn Burrell, pouncing on a goalkeeping blunder from Christian Walton when Ilias Chair’s long-range strike was spilt into his path.

But Town’s second-half performance warranted a well-deserved three points in the London rain, a result that sees them claim their fifth win in eight and rise to ninth in the Championship table.

The Blues return to Portman Road for a midweek clash under the lights against Watford, who are one place below them, on Tuesday evening.

Much has been said of Town’s away form so far this season, and for good reason. Watford are the only other side yet to win on their travels in the Championship.

In fact, the Blues were the only side who had not even led during an away match until that statistic was put right in the opening knockings at Loftus Road when they got off to a flyer.

Walle Egeli, again preferred to Kasey McAteer on the right of the forward line, looked the part as he showed flashes of his trickery that prompted the league record fee he was signed for.

After he created the chance for Town’s opener, he went the closest to doubling the lead when he recycled an opportunity and fired just over the top of Nardi’s crossbar from long range.

Sadly though, the visitors could not make the most of QPR being on the ropes. Instead, it was the Hoops that looked the more threatening once Burrell had levelled the scores.

Jaden Philogene did have two chances to get his first goal away from Portman Road this season, but it was Dara O’Shea breathing a sigh of relief when Walton bailed him out after Richard Kone pounced on some sloppy play.

There was nothing to worry about after the break, though, as the Blues turned on the afterburners and showed why they can be deemed serious promotion contenders this season.

Town’s early November visit to QPR will be remembered for one man.

Núñez produced two outstanding pieces of free-kick brilliance in front of the visiting supporters, who could not stop singing his name to the tune of the Cranberries.

Since his arrival from Norwich, Núñez has been a fans’ favourite at Portman Road without having the significant opportunities to showcase his ability, particularly in an attacking sense.

Starting behind the striker at Loftus Road, though, gave him the perfect chance to stake his claim and why Szmodics and Chuba Akpom may have another man to contend with in their position.

As Loftus Road gradually emptied towards the end of the game, there was not a seat visible in the sold-out away section who finally have something to celebrate on their travels.

Núñez’s name will be sung all the way back to Suffolk tonight.

Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): Nardi; Esquerdinha (Norrington-Davies 61), Cook (Mbengue 78), Morrison, Dunne (c); Madsen, Hayden; Chair (Saito 61), Kone (Frey 68), Vale (Poku 61); Burrell. Subs: Hamer, Field, Smyth, Varane. Booked: Vale, Morrison, Mbengue, Hayden.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Walton; Davis (Johnson 72), Kipré (c), O’Shea, Furlong; Taylor, Matusiwa; Philogene (Young 84), Núñez (J Clarke 84), Walle Egeli (McAteer 72); Hirst (Akpom 72). Subs: Button, Cajuste, Greaves, Humphreys.

Referee: Sam Allison (Wiltshire).

SuffolkNews Man of the Match: Marcelino Núñez. The midfielder’s brilliance from two separate dead-ball instances is ultimately what this game will be remembered for. His magic sparked the Blues into life and set the foundations for what turned into a comfortable afternoon in the capital.