Sky Bet Championship

QPR 1 (Wszolek 90) 3 Leeds United (Roofe 63, 68, 90+4)       

Kemar Roofe scored a second half hat-trick at Loftus Road to give Leeds a convincing 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Head coach Thomas Christiansen made one enforced change to the team that drew 1-1 with Aston Villa last time out, with Roofe in for the injured Pablo Hernandez, whilst Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Pawel Cibocki and Eunan O’Kane returned to the bench.

The home side had the first big chance of the game inside nine minutes, Pawel Wszolek got the better of Gaetano Berardi and crossed low looking for Matt Smith, but Luke Ayling made a superb challenge to deny the former Whites forward.

Luke Freeman then clipped a neat ball into the Leeds box which was controlled well with Connor Washington on his chest, before he fired an effort, but his attempt went wide.

Forward Caleb Ekuban then had a big chance for Leeds, Ezgjan Alioski crossed well from the right, but United’s striker could only head over the bar under pressure.

Smith then went close when he got on the end of a Jake Bidwell cross, but his header went over the crossbar.

Some good build up play almost saw the opening goal come for the visitors in the 27^th minute, Massimo Luongo sent Wszolek down the right wing, he crossed low, but Freeman couldn’t find the target with his finish.

Leeds were dealt a blow just before the break when Caleb Ekuban had to be withdrawn through injury, with Cibicki coming on for his Championship debut, with Roofe taking up the role of centre forward.

The Whites almost went in ahead soon after when Roofe went through on goal, but QPR recovered and Bidwell made a fine challenge, to ensure the two sides went in all square.

Half Time: QPR 0-0 Leeds United

Leeds went close eight minutes into the second half, Alioski did well in the R’s half, before teeing up Cibicki who forced Alex Smithies into action with a low effort.

Washington then made a good turn and tried to break into the Leeds box, but Wiedwald did well to get off his line quickly and smother the chance.

Leeds took the lead just after the hour mark, Alioski put a fine cross into the QPR box and Roofe leapt highest and headed home, to send the travelling Leeds support of over 3,000 wild.

Two minutes later Ian Holloway’s side could have leveled, but Luongo could only head Bidwell’s cross into the side netting.

In the 68^th minute a Leeds corner was fired out to Samuel Saiz on the edge of the Leeds box and he was only denied by a super stop from Smithies.

However the Leeds pressure told a minute later, when substitute Cibicki put in a lovely cross from the right and Roofe fired home.

United could have sealed the victory with six minutes of normal time remaining, Cibicki played Saiz through on goal, but the Spaniard tried too much trickery and put the opportunity wide.

There was then drama in the 90^th minute, when Wiedwald misjudged a Wszolek ball into the box, which bounced over the Whites stopper and into the net, to set up a tense finish.

QPR substitute Idrissa Sylla then had the chance to level the scores, he went through one-on-one with Wiedwald, but was denied by a super stop.

Leeds then sealed the victory with a super counter attack, Saiz played Roofe into the Rangers box and he cut inside before striking and finding the back of the net, to complete his hat-trick and cap off a fine performance.

Full Time: QPR 1-3 Leeds United

QPR: Smithies, Bidwell (Sylla 71), Onuoha, Freeman, Washington, Scowen (Hall 78), Smith, Robinson, Luongo, Wszolek, Chair (Osayi-Samuel 64).  Subs not used: Lumley, Hall, Cousins, Manning, Osayi-Samuel, Wheeler, Sylla.

Leeds: Wiedwald, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi, Phillips, Vieira (Pennington 80), Alioski (O'Kane 70), Roofe, Saiz, Ekuban (Cibicki 38).  Subs not used: Lonergan, Borthwick-Jackson, Anita, Shaughnessy.

Referee: C. Kavanagh

Booked: Scowen, Luongo (QPR), Phillips, Vieira, Alioski (Leeds)

Venue: Loftus Road

Attendance: 15, 506 (3,149 Leeds)