Sky Bet Championship
Leeds United 1 (Summerville 9’)
Queens Park Rangers 0
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Ampadu, Piroe (Bamford 65’), Summerville (Poveda 80’), Anthony (James 65’), Rodon, Struijk, Gray, Rutter (Cresswell 90’), Byram. Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Cooper, Kamara, Gelhardt, Gruev.
QPR: Begovic (GK) (C), Kakay (Dunne 73’), Colback (Dozzell 45’), Cook (Larkeche 84’), Clarke-Salter, Field, Dykes, Chair, Smyth (Adomah 45’), Paal, Armstrong (Kolli 78’). Subs not used: Archer (GK), Dixon-Bonner, Kelman, Duke-McKenna.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 32,663
Referee: David Webb
Booked: Field, Kakay (QPR)
Sent-off: Begovic (QPR)
Leeds United returned to home turf on Wednesday, taking on Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship. Under the lights, a first half winner from Crysencio Summerville was enough to secure the three points.
Both teams were aiming to bounce back from defeats in their previous fixtures, as the Whites lost away at Southampton, and QPR at home to Coventry City.
Daniel Farke made four changes from the trip to St Mary’s, giving a first start to Jaidon Anthony, whilst also bringing Luke Ayling, Joe Rodon and Archie Gray back into the starting line-up.
Opposition boss Gareth Ainsworth was boosted by the return of Jack Colback to his side, who began at the heart of midfield for the midweek trip to West Yorkshire.
Wanting to start quickly in the match and keep the excellent early atmosphere going at Elland Road, that’s exactly what the Whites did, taking the lead after just nine minutes of play.
The goal came from Sam Byram winning possession high up the pitch and playing it to Georginio Rutter. The forward controlled, then threaded a pass to Summerville who composed himself before slotting beyond Asmir Begovic to open the scoring.
One nearly became two soon after, as the same combination continued to cause chaos in the Rangers backline.
Rutter crossed in low from the left and Summerville struck at close range, only to see Jake Clarke-Salter make a last-ditch block to deny the winger a second.
Farke’s side dominated for the rest of the half but with QPR sitting deep, they offered very little at the other end. The whistle went for the break with Leeds a goal ahead.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
The second half saw Ainsworth go to his bench and make a double substitution. Colback’s return had lasted 45 minutes and along with Paul Smyth, they were replaced by Albert Adomah and Andre Dozzell.
The changes gave the visitors a fresh impetus on the game and they pushed further forward, looking to try and trouble the Leeds backline for the first time in the match, keeping the defensive pairing of Rodon and Pascal Struijk occupied.
Just after an hour bad been played, Farke then went to his bench, also making a double substitution. Patrick Bamford and Dan James came on, in place of Joel Piroe and Anthony.
The first time Illan Meslier was tested was with 20 minutes or so left in the match. Ilias Chair cut in from the left and struck from 25-yards, powerfully on target, but the Leeds stopper saw it all the way to make a strong save.
At the other end, Begovic was then called into action between the posts for the R’s. Rutter played an excellent ball over the top for Bamford, who ran into the box before firing low and hard, forcing the ‘keeper to make a strong save.
Into the final minutes of the match, Meslier was called upon again. This time it was a big chance for the away side as Lyndon Dykes ran in behind in the box and flicked at goal, only to see the ‘keeper deny him by spreading his body well.
The drama with the goalkeepers continued into stoppage time. Bamford got in behind the QPR defence and flicked the ball over Begovic.
Still outside the area, the referee signalled that Bamford was brought down by the goalie and he was sent-off for doing so, meaning Dykes had to go in goal for the final moments.
Deciding to keep control of the ball with the player and goal advantage, as the clock ticked to over 100 minutes played, the whistle finally went to confirm back-to-back victories on home turf for United.
Leeds will be back in action quickly, later on this week. They return to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon to face Bristol City, in a 3pm kick-off.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
