Key events
24 min: Gruev was the man in front of Andersen when the QPR man let fly for that goal but couldn’t properly close him down. QPR look far sharper at the moment.
GOAL! QPR 2-0 Leeds (Andersen 22)
Leeds are having a shocker! Andersen launches a long throw from the right that works its way back to him. He slips inside the box, quickly shifts on to his left foot and whips the ball past Meslier’s dive to the right. A terrific hit and Leeds need to wake up.
21 min: Willock, who has been amongst it, has a cross from the right cleared away.
19 min: QPR continue to threaten, Paal drifting into the Leeds half before crossing for Dykes, whose diving header trickles wide. QPR have a silly amount of space out on the left when venturing forward.
17 min: Andersen whips in a better free-kick this time round, and the ball drops nicely for Chair to have a swing inside the box … but the ball flies high and over.
16 min: QPR have a free-kick that is wasted by Andersen, who passes straight to a Leeds player. And then a dreadful challenge from Byram on Chair out on QPR’s left; he only gets the man, and a yellow card, too.
14 min: The corner is dealt with and QPR break, but Leeds retreat and Colback commits a foul deep inside the visitors’ half.
13 min: Leeds’ first proper go at QPR. Gruev splits the midfield with a fine pass and they work it around well inside the box before Piroe lets fly. Begovic saves well to his left and it’s cleared for a corner.
11 min: Just bizarre how much room Chair had there, allowed so easily to dribble and let loose.
GOAL! QPR 1-0 Leeds (Chair 8)
What a start for the hosts! Chair picks up the ball in so much space inside the Leeds half; he drives forward, cuts on to his right foot and launches a shot from just outside the box. There’s a slight deflection, I think, and the ball finds the bottom right corner past the diving Meslier. A moment of joy for QPR and, of course, Leicester.
7 min: Dunne, running back towards his own goal, clears away for a Leeds throw. He’s got a serious battle on his hands this evening, having to deal with the electric Summerville.
6 min: Willock breaks through the middle of the field, but can’t nail his pass to the supporting Dykes. QPR have started well against a side at the opposite end of the table.
5 min: Gray intercepts for Leeds high up the pitch and eventually laces a cross into the box from the left. QPR clear it to safety.
4 min: A quiet start to proceedings as Leeds pass it around at the back.
2 min: Chair, out on the left, fails to bring down a long diagonal ball from the back.
1 min: Dunne advances forward for QPR and is in the opposition box, but the ball is diverted out for a goalkick. Meslier clears from just outside the box for a QPR throw on the left.
Peep!
Off we go. QPR in their usual blue-and-white, Leeds not all that pretty in pink. The hosts kick first, moving from right to left.
Not far away now from kick-off. Sort your snacks, tea, whatever you consume.
“Taha, greeting from California.” Hello to you, Mary Waltz. “When it appeared that my beloved Everton was going down I began to try to learn a bit about the Championship. I have followed the chase for the last 10 weeks and started watching the Second Tier podcast. I found a distinctly different atmosphere from the PL and the fact that there wasn’t VAR was a plus. I am looking forward to the playoffs and to get a jump on the teams Everton will be fighting for relegation next year.”
“I’d rather it not be like that,” Joe Rodon tells Sky, reflecting on Leeds’ thrilling 4-3 win over Middlesbrough. Um, Joe, have a think about the neutrals, please.
Here’s John Brewin, by the way, making his case.
So Leeds are without Patrick Bamford; in comes Joël Piroe to lead the line. QPR have the same XI that beat Preston.
QPR: Begovic, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal, Field, Colback, Willock, Andersen, Chair, Dykes
Subs: Smyth, Hayden, Fox, Dixon-Bonner, Cannon, Larkeche, Armstrong, Walsh, Adomah
Leeds: Meslier, Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, Gray, Gruev, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville, Piroe
Subs: Crew, Cresswell, Cooper, Kamara, Anthony, Shackleton, Darlow, Gelhardt, Fernández
Referee: Darren Bond
The teams
Here’s how they’re looking tonight.
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
The R’s are unchanged 🤝
— QPR FC (@QPR) April 26, 2024
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of Leeds United’s trip down to Loftus Road. Both sides find themselves competing for different things: another season in the Championship would be delicious for 18th-placed QPR; for Leeds, currently second, it would taste like gone-off milk.
The good news for tonight’s hosts is that they aren’t far off confirming safety. A victory this evening – following on from their 1-0 win over Preston last weekend – will keep them in the second tier.
Leeds, meanwhile, are looking over their shoulder – they sit one point ahead of Ipswich but having played an extra game. They had a wild time at Boro the other night, nicking it 4-3, but how they’d just love to claim a calm, composed strolling three points in London. But a Friday dalliance in the capital seems primed for, at the very least, a bit of drama. Kick-off’s at 8pm BST.
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