QPR End Leeds Unbeaten Run

The weekend started off well for Leeds United with the club announcing the news that Ross McCormack had signed a new extended deal on Friday evening.

McCormack puts an end to speculation about a move to Middlesbrough having put pen to paper on a new four year contract. The Teesside club had tabled several bids reported to be around the £2 million mark which had been rejected by Leeds. The outright rejection of these bids and signing McCormack up to a new longer term deal is a statement of intent from the new owners and signifies that we no longer have to sell our best players.

McCormack has been one of the in form players so far this season having already scored four goals. Chairman Salah Nooruddin said, “It’s great news that we’ve been able to reach an agreement with Ross regarding his longer-term future. We received a number of sizeable offers for the player, but we are delighted to have agreed a new contract that will see Ross remain at Leeds United. We are looking to build a future for the football club, and we see Ross very much as part of that future.”

Saturday saw the visit of star studded Queens Park Rangers to Elland Road. Both teams were unbeaten so far this season but with former Premiership players such as Green, Barton, Dunne, and Wright-Phillips and experienced Championship players such as Austin and Hill this was always going to be a stern test for Leeds. Manager Brian McDermott made only one change from the last league match with Scott Wootton coming into the starting eleven in place of Tom Lees having impressed mid-week in the League Cup.

The first half was a fairly even affair with chances few and far between. Joey Barton put the ball in the back of the net but fortunately for Leeds it was ruled off for offside. Both sides nullified each other in this midfield but likewise created little, Shaun Wright-Phillips was the main outlet for the visitors and he himself saw a header go past the post. Austin and McCormack both had chances for Leeds but neither team could take the advantage before half time.

The second half was still tight but QPR were the slightly more creative team with the addition of Hoilett adding to the threat of Wright-Phillips. Leeds were frustrated by some poor passing and resorted to the long ball tactics of last season. They lacked that final ball or quality up front to get something out of the game. Brian McDermott freshened up the attack which had offered little in the way of threat so far with Matt Smith and Dominic Poleon coming on for Hunt and Varney.

The killer blow came on 75 minutes, a Joey Barton free kick wasn’t dealt with properly, Kenny fumbled and Clint Hill stuck the ball into the roof of the net to give QPR the lead. McDermott responded by bringing on El-Hadji Diouf, the game was still close and the United manager clearly felt he could get something from the game. Rodolph Austin thundered the top of the bar with a long distance effort in the final minute but Leeds could not find that equaliser before full time. Those who had backed Leeds using one of the many bookmakers free bets would have been left doubly disappointed.

The positive that Leeds can take from the game is that they were difficult to beat. A team that has spent a lot of money and will be seen as one of the favourites for promotion shaded the victory but our defence was largely untested. The disappointments will be a scrappy goal to concede which Kenny should have done better with and lack of threat up front. Passing was poor and we lacked that killer final ball. Hunt and Varney toiled hard but nothing came off for them, we lack that quality up front to get a goal out of nothing.

So our first defeat of the season, but let’s not get too disheartened. We competed for the majority of the game and without further investment we know we are not going to be up there with the top teams in the division. We are a work in progress and with the squad McDermott has I think he is doing a good job so far.