QPR 2 Leeds United 2 – the Curse of Loftus Road. It’s beginning to feel like the business end of the season as the top three teams start to wobble. After being two goals down in the first half they fought back to force a draw, but lacked the edge to create the winner.
Leeds do not travel well to London and their defeat twelve months against QPR at Loftus Road was emblematic of this, losing 4-0. Leeds never recovered from that and went on to lose to last season’s bogey team Southampton. The scars remain. After a frustrating draw it certainly feels like Leeds are cursed at Loftus Road.
There were lots of positives in this match. Leeds dominated possession at 70%. Leeds certainly had enough chances to win the match. Leeds played attacking football throughout. But there remain nervous concerns: Without Ampadu there were gaps in defence that were exploited. That final touch in the penalty box was poor. Farke’s reluctance to drop Aaronson eventually gave in and was swapped for Gnonto at half time who made an immediate impact.
When Leeds play away it is a full house. I noticed last week that even Sheffield United, expecting to be promoted cannot fill their own stadium. Clubs rely on the celebrity status of Leeds United to fill those empty seats. Teams tend to raise their games against visiting Leeds as Portsmouth did two weeks ago – but pay the price for that by losing their next match – as Portsmouth did.
Farke announced an unchanged squad. He seems to only want to rotate Rothwell when there are three matches in a week. His confidence in his first team is immense but not good news for Gnonto and Ramazani who are restricted to cameo appearances.
Leeds were on the front foot from the start with four early chances. Despite that they fell behind by failing to clear from their defence a loose ball from Aaronson that Saito scored with a well taken goal on 16 minutes.
The match then began to have shades of the 4-0 defeat twelve months ago when a cross to a left completely unmarked Cook who headed QPR 2-0 ahead. And it was only half an hour in. Leeds had all the possession and QPR scored from their only two shots so far.
It was entertaining but painful to watch as Rothwell and Tanaka surged through midfield with James and Solomon sending in probing crosses into the box, yet here they were two goals down. QPR’s long throws into the penalty box taunted Leeds. Eventually the attacking play paid off as just before half time Leeds walked the ball it into the net with Solomon passing to Firpo past the keeper. There was a huge appeal against Bogle offside but just about not in play.
Second half was a step up for Leeds as Gnonto came on for the under performing Aaronson. The equaliser came on 50 minutes as Bogle raced into the box to pick up a keeper deflection from a Solomon close range shot – another walking it into the box. Bogle and Firpo continued to impress on the wings overlapping with Solomon and James to overload the attacks.
The match drifted as Leeds looked aimlessly for the winner with only a red card for Saito to liven things up. Solomon ruined a good performance when he sulked as he was subbed, and Meslier had to make one save from another long throw.
Man of the match: Rothwell ransacked the QPR midfield, even if Farke felt he should have played Gruev.
