Leeds stumble once again in promotion race after defeat at QPR

Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa's side are still in third place after this result but there's a sense of creeping concern surrounding this promotion-chasing side

Darnell Furlong celebrates QPR's victory at the final whistle (PA)

After finding their feet last week, Leeds United stumbled once again at Loftus Road this evening, losing 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers and losing ground in the race to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds are still in third place after this result, two points behind leaders Norwich City. That is not a bad place to be but this was their game in hand, their chance to go back on top, and they wasted it. They have fourth-placed West Bromwich Albion at home on Friday night, a huge game, and if they play like they did here then they are going to be in trouble.

Because QPR, not exactly a form team, looked livelier and sharper throughout this game. Luke Freeman, the best player on the pitch, scored the only goal with a clever flick, but the hosts dominated the second half after that and missed chances to kill the game. Patrick Bamford had half chances in each half but this evening only increased the questions about how blunt Leeds and Bamford are right now given the number of injuries they have.

But it was worrying for Leeds how much more energetic QPR were, given that their squad is not exactly lavishly well stocked, and they have far less to play for at this stage of the season. It felt like a game that Leeds needed to kill early on, but they could not even do that. Now they will go into Friday’s game tired, low, and down on confidence.

It was clear early on that this would not be a thrilling Leeds blitz, and soon enough it had turned into the type of long slog Leeds were hoping to avoid. Rangers are a far better organised side this year under Steve McClaren than they have been in years and there was never an obvious way through for a Leeds team that could not summon its normal energy. Especially with injuries and the schedule biting deeper than ever.

QPR's Jake Bidwell holds onto Leeds' Pablo Hernandez in attempt to secure possession (Action Images)

Marcelo Bielsa has always said that his Leeds team need to create more chances than anyone else because they are not efficient enough in front of goal. Here they were poor in the final third, missing the lively movement of Kemar Roofe up front. They had Bamford up front instead, making just his fourth Championship start of the season. But he struggled to test QPR and could not take the half-chances that came his way, shooting over from Luke Ayling’s cross, failing to connect with Pablo Hernandez’s ball across the box after a clever move. In the last action of the first half Bamford was reduced to a desperate handball out of frustration.

This had become the type of game where Leeds had to raise it, but in fact QPR emerged stronger for the second half. They were sharper, hungrier, stronger, and it only took three minutes for them to take the lead. Massimo Luongo burst down the right, away from two tackles, and pulled a cross into the box. No-one stopped it and there at the near post popped up Luke Freeman, pulling off a brilliant flick with the inside of his right heel, catching Kiko Casila unawares and putting his team in front.

It was a surprising finish but it was not a surprising scoreline, and now that Rangers were in control of the game they did not want to let go. Pawel Wszolek headed one straight at Casilla, who then had to charge out to block Nakhi Wells in a dangerous position. Jordan Cousins went down in the box after a challenge from Pontus Jansson and suddenly it felt as if Leeds were just hanging on to stay in the game.

Pontus Jansson reacts during the clash at Loftus Road (Getty Images)

Bielsa threw on Barry Douglas and Stuart Dallas, looking for some extra energy, anything to turn the game. And after so many flat minutes, they finally got some tempo back. Douglas soon had a good chance to equalise, free just inside the box, but he put his shot into the despairing away end. Leeds were getting closer and when Bamford and Dallas combined, they forced Joe Lumley to make three saves in a row to keep the score at 1-0.

That was it in terms of Leeds siege, and the last real chance was at the other end, Casilla making another good save from Bright Osayi-Samuel, just off the QPR bench. The fightback was only brief, and never as fierce as it needed to be. Now Leeds have to rediscover their stride again with only 12 games left.