MX23RW : Saturday, May 25 22:26:22| >> :600:96745:96745:

Match Analysis: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Leeds United

Sports Mole casts its eye over the 1-1 draw between Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United in the Championship.

Queens Park Rangers equalled their total February point haul by drawing 1-1 with Leeds United on the first day of March this afternoon.

Harry Redknapp's side came into today's Championship game with their automatic-promotion hopes drifting further away after three straight losses and got off to a bad start when Richard Dunne fouled Ross McCormack to give Leeds a penalty.

The division's top scorer fluffed his lines from 12 yards, though, as his weak effort was saved by Robert Green.

He didn't dwell on the miss, however, and soon put Leeds ahead with a 25-yard free kick that was helped into the corner by a slight deflection.

QPR equalised just before half time when Jermaine Jenas played a one-two with Kevin Doyle before stroking into the corner from the edge of the area.

There was no further goal after the interval as both teams appeared content with a point each.

Here, Sports Mole picks the bones out of today's game at Loftus Road.

Match statistics

QPR
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 58%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 9

Leeds
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 42%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 18

Was the result fair?

A draw felt right come full time. Leeds were excellent for the first 40 minutes and didn't really deserve to be being held at half time. After the break, though, QPR were the better team as the visitors' intensity dropped off. Neither side really went for it in the closing stages though and a point apiece was right.

QPR's performance

The home side looked like a team low on confidence early on and Dunne's challenge on McCormack was a risky one. Slow-motion replays show that the Irishman did get the slightest of touches on the ball, but you can see why referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot even though his assistant signalled for a corner. Green did well to see where McCormack was going and save his tame penalty but he could do nothing about the Scot's free kick, which was curling straight towards him until it flicked off Armand Traore and into the corner. It wasn't until just before the break that QPR finally started stringing some passes together and it resulted in the goal as Jenas's clever movement was followed by a cool finish. After the break, Traore had a great chance moments after the break but that was about as good as it got for Rangers. Clint Hill won the reverse fixture between these two and he thought he had done it again in the dying seconds but was rightly flagged offside. Favourites for promotion at the start of the season, QPR are now five without a win in the league and might just have to settle for a place in the playoffs if they don't sort it out soon. If not, it could be worse.

Leeds's performance

Leeds themselves aren't in the best of form and are now winless in three after today's result. They are clinging on to hopes of squeezing into the playoffs and on the basis of today's display, they certainly could make a late dash for the top six. They were superb in closing down QPR in the first half but did seem to lose their legs after half time. Although his penalty was pants, McCormack didn't shy away from the free-kick opportunity and got some luck when it was diverted past Green. He now has as many league goals as Luis Suarez this season. Leeds fans were hoping to see fireworks from midweek loan signing Connor Wickham and although he didn't blow QPR away, he linked up nicely with McCormack up front; if they can continue to have a good relationship, then all defences in the league should be very afraid. A much better performance than last week's flat display at Middlesbrough, that's for sure.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Nedum Onuoha: Hard to pick one man who stood out today but we're going to reward QPR centre-back Onuoha for some solid defending and two superb last-ditch challenges that prevented clear goalscoring opportunities.

Biggest gaffe

He may be the top scorer in the Championship, but McCormack's penalty really was a poor one as his lacklustre run-up led to a limp spot kick that was easily saved by Green.

Referee performance

Premier League regular Foy had a pretty good game with the whistle. Although QPR could argue that both the penalty and the free kick were the wrong calls, you can also see why he blew the whistle. Apart from that, there was little for Foy to worry about and he will thank his linesman for rightly flagging Hill offside in the final moments.

What next?

QPR: Next up for Rangers is a trip to Birmingham City to face Lee Clark's Blues in a week.

Leeds: McDermott's men, meanwhile, host Bolton Wanderers next Saturday.

ID:141837: cacheID:141837:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7080:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
QPR manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline during his team's match against Burnley on October 26, 2013
Read Next:
Leeds draw at QPR
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!