Leeds earn point at Loftus Road

02 Mar 2014 05:51 pm, by YorkshireSquare

Queens Park Rangers 1 (Jenas 44)
Leeds United 1 (McCormack 14)

This game was equally important for both teams ambitions this season. QPR’s dreams of automatic promotion are fading away after a poor run of form and pressure is on manager Harry Redknapp to turn results around, especially given the investment Tony Fernandes has made.

Likewise Leeds manager Brian McDermott us under pressure after his reprieve to get Leeds’ play-off push back on track, especially given the recent additions to the squad. New boy Connor Wickham came straight into the starting 11, up front alongside Ross McCormack. Defender Tom Lees also regained his starting place at the expense of Scott Wootton who was relegated to the bench.

After some initial pressure from QPR Leeds were the team on top when on ten minutes Richard Dunne brought down Ross McCormack in the area. After looking to his assistant from some help Chris Foy pointed to the penalty spot. McCormack hit the spot kick to the right but with little power and Rob Green was able to make an easy save.

McCormack was able to make amends for his error only four minutes later when Leeds had a free kick just outside the area after Austin was brought down by Traore. McCormack free kick deflected off Kevin Doyle and into the back of the net. One nil Leeds on 14 minutes.

Leeds were the better side for most of the first half with Connor Wickham looking lively and linking up well with Ross McCormack up front. The tide turned however when Redknapp changed things tactically just before half time. The rewards came almost instantly when Jermaine Jenas levelled things u on 44 minutes. All square at half time.

QPR were the dominant force in the second half having changed their formation and Leeds looked lightweight in midfield. Butland made a few decent saves to keep QPR at day and Leeds rallied late on but were unable to get the winner. Wickham coming closest with a shot flashed just wide of Greens post and a good effort from a Mowatt free kick.

Austin was much improved on last week but is still not the commanding force we need in the middle of the pitch. Kebe and Stewart again blew hot and cold. Stewart looking the livelier of the two but lacking a final product. Murphy looked isolated in the middle, often looking up and having no option. The defence was more assured but the midfield gave them little support with Jason Pearce emerging as man of the match.

So the verdict? Up front we look decent and we were improved defensively, the midfield is where the issues lay and as we have known for some time we need to strengthen. I suppose a point at QPR is good but given our situation we needed three, and looking at QPR’s form and the fact we took the lead we should probably have hoped for better. Manager Brian McDermott said;

"You'd take a point before the game here, but as the game panned out it was disappointing not to take all three. We should maybe have killed the game off in the first half. But it is what it is, another point on the board and I just want positivity around Leeds United. We haven't had much lately. We are still waiting for the takeover to be completed but it is a much calmer place now."


QPR Line-up:
Green, Traore, Morrison (Benayoun 85), Dunne, Hill, Onuoha, Jenas (Carroll 81), Hughes, Henry, Hoilett (Keane 62), Doyle
Unused Subs: Murphy, Yun, Sendles-White, Maiga

Leeds United Line-up:
Butland, Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Warnock, Murphy (Brown 80), Austin, Stewart (Mowatt 70), Kebe (Byram 90), McCormack, Wickham
Unused Subs: Cairns, Wootton, Smith, Hunt