QPR 1-0 Leeds United: Leeds' poor run continues as they suffer a third defeat in a row

By @ed_mcintyre98

Leeds United's poor run of form continued as Nahki Wells' controversial first-half goal was enough for Mark Warburton's QPR side to seal all three points at home, handing the Whites their third defeat in a row in all competitions.

Marcelo Bielsa named just one change to the side that started in Leeds United's 2-0 to loss to Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road last Saturday. Stuart Dallas was moved to left-back for the injured Barry Douglas, meaning Pablo Hernandez started in midfield.

It was a lively start to the game, with both sides pushing for the early breakthrough. Leeds would've felt as though they should've had a penalty in the first few minutes of the game when Lee Wallace brought down Helder Costa in the box without winning the ball, but referee Peter Bankes waved play on.

Shortly after QPR goalkeeper Liam Kelly would've had his heart in his mouth when striker Patrick Bamford won the ball back for Leeds after a tussle with Geoff Cameron on half-way, only to then go for goal just inside QPR's half in an attempt to catch the goalkeeper way off his line, but his effort flew wide of the target.

Kiko Casilla was then called into action for Leeds on 15 minutes when Luke Amos tried his luck from distance, forcing the Spanish goalkeeper to dive over and push the ball away.

But QPR found the breakthrough five minutes later. An Eberichi Eze free-kick deflected off the head of Luke Ayling and into the path of striker Nahki Wells, who after controversially controlling the ball with his hand, finished into the back of the net uncontested to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Leeds had a chance to equalise ten minutes before the break when Patrick Bamford got on the end of a long ball with just the goalkeeper to bear, but his shot flew well over the bar and failed to beat the oncoming Kelly. 1-0 to QPR at half-time.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks in the second-half, dominating the early stages. Leeds' pressure told as they were awarded a penalty by the referee on the hour mark when Kelly brought down Bamford. The goalkeeper redeemed himself however as he dived the right way to save Bamford's penalty.

Bielsa's side kept pressing in hunt for the equaliser, and they came to close to finding it again when Pablo Hernandez' free-kick struck the outside of the post.

However, Leeds suffered a major blow in their hopes of finding a goal on 88 minutes when midfielder Kalvin Phillips was shown a straight red card for a late and reckless challenge on Geoff Cameron.

Kalvin Phillips goes in late on Geoff Cameron

Mark Warburton's side held on to win 1-0, QPR's third home victory in a row in all competitions. As for Leeds, their poor run continues as that was their third defeat in a row in all competitions, while also seeing their gap to third shrink to four points which soon could be three.

Match information

Queens Park Rangers vs. Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship

Saturday 18th January 2020

The John Smith's Stadium

Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): Kelly (GK), Kane, Hall, Masterson, Wallace, Cameron, Amos (Scowen 74'), Osayi-Samuel, Chair (Clarke 74'), Eze, Wells (Pugh 83'). Unused subs: Barnes (GK), Ball, Manning, Leistner.

Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Casilla (GK), Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas (Alioski 45'), Phillips, Klich (Stevens 87'), Hernandez, Costa, Harrison, Bamford. Unused subs: Meslier (GK), Casey, Struijk, McCalmont, Shackleton.

Referee: Peter Bankes