Sinton inspires QPR against title-chasing Leeds - History Friday, 17th Jan 2020 11:05 by Clive Whittingham Ahead of Leeds United's visit to Loftus Road on Saturday, we wind the clock back to a previous occasion when the Whites were chasing league title glory only to receive a schooling from Gerry Francis' QPR. Memorable MatchQueens Park Rangers 4 Leeds United 1, Wednesday March 11, 1992, First Division The last English manager to win the title in the top division of English football remains Howard Wilkinson — at Leeds United in the 1991/92 season. The Premier League started a year later and has been dominated by Scots (Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish), Europeans (Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini, Pep Guardiola and soon Jurgeon Klopp) and, briefly, Chile's Manuel Pellegrini. The achievement at Elland Road was all the more remarkable because the Whites had only been promoted from Division Two at the end of the 1989/90 season. They’d shown their intent with a fourth placed finish in their first season back and were ready to slug it out with Manchester Unite at the top of the last ever Old First Division table. QPR were under the charge of returning hero Gerry Francis for the first time in 1991/92. He’d controversially replace the experienced Don Howe at the start of the season — Howe told to make way for a younger man in a way you’d never get away with in modern employment law — having enjoyed some success as boss of Bristol Rovers. Francis picked up several of his former charges from the lower divisions to help him at Loftus Road — Ian Holloway, Dennis Bailey, Tony Witter, Devon White and Steve Yates would all move from the South West to Loftus Road at points during Francis’ reign — but he’d made a slow start to life as a top flight manager. After a creditable opening day draw at champions Arsenal, where Paul Merson equalised with virtually the last kick of the game, Rangers had failed to win any of their first eight and only three of their first 16 in the league leaving them in the relegation zone. But the board kept faith with their new man and the going was spectacularly good in the second half of the season. Rangers famously won 4-1 at Old Trafford against Manchester United on New Year’s Day, doing Leeds a big favour in the title race, and had beaten fellow high flyers Manchester City 4-0 at Loftus Road on the Saturday before this Wednesday night visit from the champions-elect. Leeds based their title success on a run of ten wins and a draw from 11 matches through October and November. They’d been in more inconsistent form prior to their midweek trip to Loftus Road with five wins, three draws and three defeats but nothing at their end suggested a mauling was on the cards — they’d won 3-1 at Tottenham just four days beforehand. But this was to be one of those nights, under the lights, at Loftus Road. The R’s may have been buoyed by the weekend thrashing of City but they fell behind after 11 minutes when patient midfield build up between Gordon Strachan and David Batty fed the ball wide to Jon Newsome who crossed into the Loft End penalty area for the late Gary Speed to arrive in trademark style and thump a header beyond Jan Stejskal and into the net. But Rangers stuck to their task well and could have equalised when Andy Sinton found a young Andy Impey at the far post with a deep cross and he drew a smart save from keeper John Lukic. Ray Wilkins took the resulting corner and although an attempt by both Les Ferdinand and Darren Peacock to flick the ball on into the danger area initially failed, it dropped plum for Ferdinand in the six yard box and he rarely missed from there. All square at half time then, but it was QPR who were all set to step on the gas in the second half. Sinton served notice with an early volley that deflected wide off centre half Chris Whyte and then Alan McDonald, still forward from an earlier cleared corner, showed a previously-unseen delicate touch with a cute curled finish from 15 yards that beat Lukic but flashed wide of the far post. The second goal, when it did finally come, was beautifully crafted. At the start of the move the ball was deep in QPR territory, picked up by David Bardsley down by the right hand corner flag after Rod Wallace had failed to volley home another Newsome cross. Bardsley freed Impey who in turn found Ray Wilkins at the heart of the midfield. The veteran midfielder, defying his ridiculous reputation as a crab-like sideways pass merchant, cut two Leeds players out of the game with a forward pass to Sinton and then moved to receive the return pass. Few QPR players through history have had the vision and skill to execute what Wilkins attempted next — he chipped a 15 yard pass into the penalty area, behind the Leeds defence, perfectly placing the ball in front of Bradley Allen who was running laterally across the penalty box to stay onside, and getting it to stop almost dead on its first bounce so that having tempted Lukic from his line it then remained agonisingly out of his reach. Pure perfection. It still needed finishing though and although Allen was only making his second start of the season he widened the angle to avoid Lukic and then finished perfectly from close to the byline despite two defenders rushing back to defend the goal line. One of my all time favourite QPR goals. Imbued by the confidence of taking the lead, QPR went for the jugular right from the kick off. Whyte looked cumbersome in conceding possession immediately but did get back to execute a block on Ferdinand as he shot from the edge of the area. Then Allen tried to turn Chris Fairclough but lost control of the ball before finally Wilkins, picking up the loose possession and cutting the visiting defence apart again with a through ball, set up Sinton to ram in a third in front of the jubilant Loft End. It could easily have been three in five minutes as Francis’ team flowed forward fluently once more — Holloway freed Wilkins who released Bardsley to spread the play to Sinton but this time the winger, through one on one with the keeper, was denied by Lukic. Splendid stuff all the same. Leeds were shot to shitrags at this stage and a fourth always looked likely. When it came, it was rather more rudimentary than what had gone before. Darren Peacock thumped a long ball down the centre of the field and with United holding an unusually high line Sinton had half the Loftus Road pitch to run into and pick his spot. Whyte, sick of being tormented by the livewire hosts, decided he fancied a taste of the early bath water and cynically, deliberately tripped Sinton as he rounded Lukic to finish. A penalty and red card the least Whyte deserved, referee Keith Cooper obliged with both, and Clive Wilson stepped up to slam in the fourth of the night from the spot, sending Lukic the wrong way. Rangers won at Villa a week later to make it three on the spin and ultimately only lost five of their final 25 games that year as they climbed into a comfortable eleventh placed finish after that traumatic start. Leeds recovered well, losing only one of their remaining nine and winning the final three to beat Manchester United to the trophy by four points. QPR: Stejskal, Bardsley, McDonald, Peacock, Wilson, Impey, Holloway, Wilkins, Sinton (Barker), Ferdinand, Allen Other Highlights >>> QPR 2 Leeds 1, 92/93 >>> QPR 4 Leeds 1 91/92 >>> Leeds 2 QPR 3 1990 >>> Leeds 2 QPR 1 FA Cup 86/87 >>> QPR 2 Leeds 0 75/76 >>> Leeds 2 QPR 2, 73/74 Recent MeetingsLeeds United 2 QPR 0, Saturday November 2, 2019, Championship QPR were beaten reasonably comfortably by Leeds in the first meeting this season, perhaps caught lacking a little bit of self belief and quality against one of the division’s better teams and in front of a hostile crowd. Lee Wallace, on debut, made a wonderful goal-saving tackle early on and Patrick Bamford missed a series of increasingly easy chances as the afternoon wore on. But goals from two of Leeds’ three best players on the day — Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison — was enough to see the hosts through. Roberts scored from the edge of the area just before half time and Harrison made the most of Marc Pugh inadvertently diverting the ball back into his own area eight minutes before the end. Leeds: Casilla 6; Ayling 6, Cooper 6, White 7, Dallas 6; Phillips 8, Klich 6; Harrison 7 (Davis 84, -), Roberts 7, Costa 5 (Hernandez 77, 5); Bamford 5 Subs not used: Meslier, Berardi, Gotts, Bogusz, Clarke Goals Roberts 39 (assisted Harrison), Harrison 82 (assisted Pugh) Bookings: Klich 22 (foul) QPR: Kelly 6; Hall 6, Leistner 5 (Kane 54, 6), Wallace 6; Rangel 5, Ball 5, Chair 5 (Pugh 63, 5), Eze 6, Manning 6; Wells 5 (Mlakar 72, 5), Hugill 5 Subs not used: Lumley, Amos, Scowen, Osayi-Samuel Bookings: Ball 70 (repetitive fouling), Wallace 79 (foul), Rangel 90+2 (foul), Hugill 90+3 (foul) QPR 1 Leeds United 0, Tuesday February 26, 2019, Championship QPR won in the Championship for the first time in ten attempts, putting an enormous dent in Leeds’ title hopes at the same time, when they triumphed against the odds at Loftus Road in February. They were led from the front by Luke Freeman who scored the only goal of the game with a cute backflick at the near post at the start of the second half, part of an all-action performance that will go down in modern day Rangers folklore. Rangers rode their luck, and required an incredible triple save from Joe Lumley to keep Patrick Bamford out in the second half, but held on for a vital win in what would become a quest to avoid sinking into the bottom three. QPR: Lumley 7; Furlong 6, Leistner 7, Hall 7, Bidwell 6; Luongo 8, Cousins 7; Wszolek 6, Eze 7 (Osayi-Samuel 77, 6), Freeman 9 (Scowen 86, -); Wells 6 (Hemed 83, -) Subs not used: Ingram, Smith, Lynch, Manning Goals: Freeman 48 (assisted Luongo) Bookings: Luongo 45+2 (foul) Bidwell 50 (foul), Wells 57 (kicking ball away), Scowen 87 (ratting) Leeds: Cassila 7; Ayling 6 (Dallas 73, 6), Jansson 6, Cooper 6, Alioski 5 (Brown 81, -); Phillips 5 (Douglas 65, 5), Klich 6; Hernandez 6, Roberts 6, Harrison 5; Bamford 5. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Berardi, Shackleton, Gotts Bookings: Brown 85 (foul) QPR 2 Leeds 1, Sunday January 6, 2019, FA Cup third round QPR won an FA Cup game outright for the first time in 22 years when these sides met at Loftus Road at the start of January. An early lead provided from the penalty spot by Aramide Oteh after Jake Bidwell was fouled was soon cancelled out by a horrendous Matt Ingram error and goal from close range by Halme. Walker had already hit the inside of both posts in the first minue for the visitors and when Ingram later fluffed a pass back it looked like another cup horror story was on the cards for Rangers. But Bidwell won the game late on with a flying header from a Luke Freeman corner to set up a round four trip to Portsmouth. QPR: Ingram 5; Kakay 6, Furlong 7, Hall 6, Bidwell 8; Scowen 7, Cousins 7; Osayi-Samuel 7 (Wszolek 86, -), Eze 6 (Smith 90, -), Freeman 8; Oteh 7 (Chair 83, -) Subs not used: Lumley, Manning, Baptiste, Smyth Goals: Oteh 23 (penalty, won Bidwell), Bidwell 75 (assisted Freeman) Bookings: Furlong 72 (foul), Kakay 90+3 (dissent) Leeds: Peacock-Farrell 7; Shackleton 6, Ayling 6, Halme 5 (Pearce 45, 5 (Temenuzhkovat 79, 5)) Davis 5 (Odour 87, -); Forshaw 7, Clarke 6; Baker 6, Roberts 7, Alioski 6; Harrison 6 Goals: Halme 25 (assisted Baker) Subs not used: Huffer, Diaz, Stevens, Gotts Bookings: Halme 20 (foul), Alioski 84 (repetitive fouling), Baker 88 (foul) Leeds 2 QPR 1, Saturday December 8, 2018, Championship Leeds striker Kemar Roofe proved the scourge of QPR once again with a pair of goals either side of half time as QPR lost narrowly in a deluge at Elland Road in early December. Rangers had taken the lead after weathering an early Leeds storm, Nahki Wells silencing the home crowd by mugging off two defenders before sliding home from the edge of the box. But Rangers sank too deep protecting that lead and eventually succumbed to Roofe’s first scrambled effort from close range depe in first half stoppage time. With Geoff Cameron off injured at half time and Rangers still regrouping, Toni Leistner was harshly judged to have handled in the area and Roofe converted Leeds’ first penalty in 59 matches. A later appeal by Matt Smith for a QPR spot kick was waved away and Jake Bidwell’s audacious late attempt to chip the keeper was saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Leeds: Peacock-Farrell 6; Shackleton 7, Jansson 5, Phillips 5, Douglas 6; Forshaw 6; Alioski 6, Saiz 6 (Halme 81, 7), Klich 6, Hernandez 8 (Clarke 86, -); Roofe 8 Subs not used: Bamford, Huffer, Harrison, Baker, Davis Goals: Roofe 45+3 (assisted Hernandez), 52 (penalty, won Roofe) Bookings: Klich 33 (foul), Phillips 63 (foul) QPR: Lumley 6; Rangel 6, Leistner 5, Lynch 5, Bidwell 6; Cameron 6 (Scowen 46, 6), Luongo 6; Wszolek 5 (Osayi-Samuel 73, 6), Eze 6 (Smith 78, 5), Freeman 6; Wells 6 Subs not used: Ingram, Furlong, Cousins, Hemed Goals: Wells 26 (unassisted) Bookings: Scowen 48 (foul), Leistner 52 (dissent), Rangel 76 (foul), Lynch 85 (nearly Christmas) Leeds completed a comfortable double against QPR for 2017/18 with an easy win on the final day of the campaign in what turned out to be the last game in charge for both Paul Heckinbottom and Ian Holloway. A typically random Holloway team selection with Darnell Furlong and Jake Bidwell at centre half had already looked vulnerable from several corners before perennial scourge of the R’s Kemar Roofe, who’d scored a hat trick at Loftus Road before Christmas, hooked in the first from a set piece on 30 minutes. A misplaced kick from Joe Lumley gave Kalvin Phillips the chance to make it two and kill the game straight after half time. Rangers weren’t at the races. Leeds: Peacock-Farrell 6; Ayling 7, Jansson 6 (Pennington 46, 6), Cooper 6, Pearce 8; Phillips 7, Vieira 6; Forshaw 7 (O’Kane 87, -), Alioksi 6, Roofe 7 (Edmondson 74,6); Ekuban 5 Subs not used: Lonergan, Lasogga, Saiz, Sacko Goals: Roofe 30, Phillips 47 Bookings: Alioski 54 (foul), Edmondson 81 (foul), Phillips 86 (foul) QPR: Lumley 5; Wszolek 5 (Smyth 67, 5), Furlong 6, Bidwell 5, Manning 6; Cousins 4, Scowen 6, Chair 5 (Osayi-Samuel 60, 5); Freeman 6, Eze 5 (Oteh 73, 5), Smith 5 Subs not used: Ingram, Kakay, Hamalainen, Owens Bookings: Furlong 63 (foul), Scowen 84 (foul), Bidwell 90+1 (foul) QPR 1 Leeds United 3, Saturday December 9, 2017, Championship QPR’s winter slump continued with a defeat to Leeds in December that, once again, extended a winless run to six matches under Ian Holloway. A tight first half had seen Luke Freeman and Conor Washington miss from close range but the visitors cut loose after half time with three goals from former Oxford man Kemar Roofe. The first was a close range header on the hour, the second a volley from only slightly further out five minutes later and the hat trick goal was swept under Alex Smithies in an injury time counter attack. QPR scored with their first shot on target just prior to that, pawel Wszolek’s chipped through ball allowed to bounce in by hapless keeper Weidwald, but the German redeemed himself by rushing out to stop Idrissa Sylla making it 2-2 just before Roofe sealed the game. Roofe hadn’t scored in nine matches prior to that and has only managed four in 16 since. QPR: Smithies 6; Wszolek 6, Onuoha 6, Robinson 6, Bidwell 6 (Sylla 71, 5); Scowen 6 (Hall 78, 6), Freeman 6, Luongo 6, Chair 6 (Osayi-Samuel 64, 5); Washington 5, Smith 6 Subs not used: Cousins, Manning, Lumley, Wheeler Goals: Wszolek 89 (unassisted) Bookings: Scowen 20 (foul), Luongo 55 (foul) Leeds: Weidwald 5; Ayling 6, Jansson 7, Cooper 7, Beradi 6; Vieira 7 (Pennington 80, -), Phillips 7; Alioski 7 (O’Kane 70, 6), Saiz 8, Roofe 8; Ekuban 5 (Cibicki 38, 6) Subs not used: Lonergan, Borthwick-Jackson, Anita, Shaughnessy Goals: Roofe 63 (assisted Alioski), 64 (assisted Cibicki), 90+4 (assisted Saiz) Bookings: Phillips 29 (foul), Vieira 56 (foul), Alioski 60 (dissent) Leeds United 0 QPR 0, Saturday March 11, 2017, Championship Everything but the goal for impressive QPR at the peak of their 2016/17 powers at Elland Road when these sides met in March. With four wins from the previous five, and a 5-1 win against Rotherham to come the following week, QPR played superbly against fourth-placed Leeds, shutting the division’s top marksman Chris Wood out of the game and failing to score only because Conor Washington started his shot around Rob Green out too wide of the post and couldn’t bring it back in. Where it all went wrong from there possibly lies in the team selection — Furlong, Onuoha, Hall, Wszolek and Matt Smith all in from the start. Leeds: Green 6; Ayling 7, Bartley 6, Jansson 6, Berardi 5; Bridcutt 6, Vieira 6 (O’Kane 78, 6); Roofe 6 (Sacko 60, 6), Hernandez 6, Pedraza 6 (Doukara 73, 5); Wood 5 Subs not used: Cooper, Silvestri, Taylor, Dallas Bookings: Ayling 35 (foul), Alfonso 48 (foul), Bridcutt 66 (foul), O’Kane 90+4 (ungentlemanly) QPR: Smithies 6; Furlong 6, Onuoha 8, Lynch 7, Bidwell 6; Freeman 8, Hall 7, Luongo 7; Wszolek 7 (Ngbakoto 79, 6), Smith 6 (Sylla 78, 6), Washington 6 (Mackie 80, 6) Subs not used: Goss, Ingram, Manning, Morrison Bookings: Bidwell 87 (foul), Mackie 90+4 (ungentlemanly) QPR 3 Leeds United 0, Sunday August 7, 2016, Championship There were few signs of the respective seasons to come for these two sides on the opening day at Loftus Road. Robert Green, making a swift return to W12 after a summer release, dropped one in his own net after five minutes to set the scene. All the spin about QPR’s ridiculously harsh pre-season under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink rang true as they ran Leeds off the park, eventually scoring a deserved second when Jordan Cousins won a penalty and Tjaronn Chery converted. Seb Polter volleyed a third in in injury time. Of the QPR players involved that day two have been sold, one has been bombed out, and three are out on loan. Leeds, meanwhile, have climbed into the promotion picture. QPR: Smithies 6; Onuoha 7, Caulker 7, Hall 7, Bidwell 7; Gladwin 5 (Cousins 56, 7), Henry 8, Luongo 8, Shodipo 6 (El Khayati 68, 6); Chery 7 (Perch 88, -); Polter 8 Subs not used: Lynch, Washington, Ingram, Kpekawa Goals: Bamba og 5 (assisted Chery/Onuoha), Chery 73 (penalty, won Cousins), Polter 90+3 (assisted Onuoha) Bookings: Gladwin 25 (foul), Bidwell 31 (dissent) Leeds: Green 3; Beradi 3 (Coyle 22, 6); Bartley 6, Bamba 4, Taylor 6; Viera 6, Diagouraga 4; Dallas 5, Grimes 5 (Antonsson 61, 4), Roofe 5 (Sacko 75, 7); Wood 4 Subs not used: Cooper, Turnbull, Mowatt, Phillips Bookings: Grimes 57 (foul) Leeds 1 QPR 1, Tuesday April 5, 2016, Championship Two substitutions helped Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink salvage a point on his return to his former stomping ground Elland Road back in April. Another injury for the luckless Jamie Mackie saw Seb Polter step forward from the bench in the first half and when he drove into the penalty area four minutes from time and was felled it presented second half sub Tjaronn Chery with a chance to score from the spot. That was only an equaliser through, with Chris Wood scoring from close range on 70 minutes when Rangers were caught out by Murphy’s inswinging free kick. Leeds: Peacock-Farrell 5; Beradi 6, Bellusci 4, Cooper 6, Taylor 6; Bridcutt 7, Murphy 6 (Diagouraga 83, -), Dallas 5 (Coyle 86, -), Cook 6; Carayol 6 (Mowatt 90, -), Wood 6 Subs not used: Bamba, Adeyemi, Grimes, Antenucci Goals: Wood 70 (assisted Murphy) QPR: Smithies 5; Onuoha 6, Hall 6, Angella 5, Perch 5; Phillips 5, Luongo 5, Faurlin 5, Hoilett 7 (Chery 74, 6); Washington 4 (El Khayati 80, -), Mackie 4 (Polter 24, 5) Subs not used: Gladwin, Henry, Ingram, Robinson Goals: Chery 86 (penalty, won Polter) QPR 1 Leeds 0, Saturday November 28, 2014, Championship Neil Warnock enjoyed a revenge mission against his former employers with a 1-0 win at Loftus Road when these sides last met on this ground. The reliance on Charlie Austin, now thankfully subsided following his departure, was clear for all to see as he settled a drab match with almost his first touch as a second half substitute — powering in a header from Ale Faurlin’s corner. Earlier Robert Green had come tearing out of his area for no good reason leaving Chris Wood to run in behind him but the new Zealand forward took too long over his finish. Leeds didn’t muster a serious shot on target all game and would have lost by more but the form of their goalkeeper Silvestri who saved brilliantly from Hall and Chery late in the second half. QPR: Green 5; Perch 6, Onuoha 7, Hall 7, Konchesky 6; Petrasso 6 (Austin 57, 7), Sandro 7, Faurlin 8, Yun 6 (Chery 57, 7), Hoilett 7 (Henry 89, -), Phillips 6 Subs not used: Luongo, Smithies, Angella, Tozser Goals: Austin 58 (assisted Faurlin) Leeds: Silvestri 7; Wootton 5, Belusci 5, Cooper 5, Taylor 5; Mowatt 6 (Botaka 67, 5), Bridcutt 6, Cook 6, Dallas 6; Antenucci 5 (Erwin 80, -), Wood 4 Subs not used: Byram, Murphy, Doukara, Adeyemi, Peacock-Farrell Booked: Bridcutt 6 (foul), Wootton 35 (foul), Cook 82 (foul) QPR 1 Leeds 1, Saturday March 1, 2014, Championship QPR had a last-second volley from Clint Hill ruled out for offside when these sides met at Loftus Road during the 2013/14 season, as Harry Redknapp's promotion-chasing side was forced to settle for a televised draw. The R's had an early let-off when Ross McCormack saw a penalty saved by Rob Green after a foul by Richard Dunne, but McCormack curled one in from a 25 yard free kick moments later to give the visitors the lead. Jermaine Jenas' well-taken equaliser before half time looked to have set the R's up for a win when Hill volleyed home in stoppage time but the offside flag cut celebrations short. QPR: Green 6; Hughes 5 Onuoha 6 Dunne 5, Hill 6; Hoilett 4 (Keane 62, 5), Jenas 6 (Carroll 81, -), Henry 6, Traore 6; Morrison 6 (Benayoun 85, -), Doyle 6 Subs: Suk-Young, Murphy, Maiga, Sendels-White Goals: Jenas 44 (assisted Doyle) Bookings: Jenas 59 (foul), Henry 87 (foul) Leeds: Butland 6; Peltier 6, Lees 6, Pearce 6, Warnock 6; Kebe 5 (Byram 90+6, -), Murphy 6 (Brown 80, -), Austin 6, Stewart 6 (Mowatt 70, 6); McCormack 7, Wickham 6 Subs not used: Hunt, Smith, Wootton, Cairns Goals: McCormack 14 (unassisted) Bookings: Warnock 32 (foul), Kebe 46 (foul), Mowatt 90+2 (foul) Leeds 0 QPR 1, Saturday August 31, 2013, Championship The first meeting between these sides that season was hardly a treat for the Saturday lunchtime television audience either, but it provided a vital three points for QPR at Elland Road. The R’s had the ball in the net before half time through Joey Barton but the midfielder was incorrectly flagged offside and the goal ruled out. Clint Hill scored one that did count 15 minutes from time and despite Rudolph Austin striking the Rangers crossbar from improbable range with the final kick of the game the London side were reasonably good value for a hard fought, scrappy victory. Leeds: Kenny 6; Peltier 6, Wootton 6, Pearce 6, Warnock 5; Murphy 6, Green 6 (Diouf 80, -), Austin 7, McCormack 5; Varney 5 (Smith 57, 6), Hunt 5 (Poleon 57, 6) Subs not used: Ashdown, Drury, Lees, Tonge QPR: Green 6; Simpson 7, Dunne 7, Onuoha 7, Hill 7; O’Neil 5 (Hoilett 64, 7), Henry 6 (Faurlin 72, 6), Barton 7, Wright-Phillips 6; Johnson 6 (Jenas 88, -), Austin 6 Subs not used: Murphy, Suk-Young, Zamora, Shariff Goals: Hill 75 (assisted Barton) Bookings: Hill 86 (foul)
QPR 1 Leeds United 2, Saturday May 9, 2011, Championship Technically QPR had sealed their status as champions of the second tier, and promotion to the Premier League, with a 2-0 win at Watford the week before the final game of the 2010/11 season at home to Leeds. However a hearing over the legitimacy of the Ale Faurlin transfer, which only started four days before the final game of the season and subsequently dragged on until 45 minutes before kick off, meant the whole thing was in doubt right down to the wire. In the end the FA decided that although QPR had gained a sporting advantage by conducting the transfer in the illegal manner they did, a points deduction was not necessary and Rangers were free to lift the trophy. It was a generous decision, owing more to the timing than the evidence, but the whole process had taken a lot out of Neil Warnock’s team. Despite Heidar Helguson scoring from close range in the first 30 seconds Leeds fought back and scored two of their own through Max Gradel and Ross McCormack to win 2-1 — thereby inflicting QPR’s only double defeat of the promotion season. Not many around Shepherds Bush cared though, and the party continued long into the night. QPR: Cerny 5, Orr 6, Connolly 6, Gorkss 6, Hill 6 (Ramage 65, 6), Derry 7, Faurlin 6, Routledge 6, Buzsaky 7 (Taarabt 55, 5), Smith 6, Helguson 6 (Shittu 72 6) Subs Not Used: Putnins, Agyemang, Moen, Ephraim Booked: Taarabt (dissent) Goals: Helguson 1 (assisted Smith) Leeds: Schmeichel 6, Connolly 6, Naylor 6 (Kisnorbo 79, 7), O'Brien 6, Lichaj 6, Gradel 7 (Watt 85, -), Kilkenny 6, Howson 6, Johnson 6, McCormack 7, Paynter 5 (Somma 65, 6) Subs Not Used: Higgs, Bruce, Livermore, Bromby Goals: Gradel 38 (assisted Naylor), McCormack 68 (unassisted)
Leeds United 2 QPR 0, Saturday December 18, 2010, Championship QPR suffered their first away defeat of their 2010/11 promotion season at Elland Road in December. Having gone 19 games unbeaten at the start of the season, culminating in a 2-1 home win against nearest promotion rivals Cardiff, the R’s then collapsed to two defeats in a week with near neighbours Watford winning 3-1 at Loftus Road and then Leeds out muscling them in West Yorkshire. QPR missed great chances at the start of each half — Tommy Smith lobbing Kaspar Schmeichel but missing the goal as well in the first five minutes, and Adel Taarabt having a goal bound volley blocked away right after half time. But in between those two incidents Max Gradel had slammed in a loose ball in the penalty area and then in the second period with QPR overcommitted and Fitz Hall backing away at a terrifying rate Gradel ran through to add a second. Ultimately only some fine late saves from Paddy Kenny kept the score down. Leeds: Schmeichel 6, Connolly 6, Bruce - (Bromby 11, 7), Collins 7, McCartney 6, Kilkenny 7, Howson 7, Johnson 7, Gradel 7 (Sam 76, 7),Becchio 8 (Paynter 90, -), Snodgrass 7 Subs Not Used: Higgs, Faye, Somma, McCormack Booked: Connolly (fighting) Goals: Gradel 25 (assisted Becchio), 70 (unassisted) QPR Kenny 7, Orr 6, Gorkss 6, Connolly 5, Hill 4 (Hall 46, 5), Derry 5, Walker 5, Mackie 6, Smith 6 (Ephraim 75, 5), Taarabt 6, Hulse 6 (Helguson 75, 5) Subs Not Used: Cerny, Clarke, Rowlands, Tofas Booked: Orr (foul), Hill (foul)
QPR 2 Leeds United 2, Tuesday August 8, 2006, Championship Right at the very beginning of the 2006/07 season, Rangers and Leeds shared the spoils in an opening night Loftus Road thriller. After a meek 2-0 defeat on day one at Burnley QPR looked set to par the course again when Eddie Lewis gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half. Step forward young Ray Jones, who combined with Shabazz Baidoo in the final half an hour of the game as a substitute to win QPR a famous point. Rangers drew level with a Martin Rowlands penalty after a generous decision from referee Kevin Friend who adjudged Gareth Ainsworth to have been fouled in the box. From the kick off Geoff Horsfield restored Leeds lead with just eight minutes to go but Baidoo scrambled an equaliser and Jones went within a whisker of winning the game outright in stoppage time. QPR: P Jones 9, Bignot 4 (Baidoo 76, 8), Rose 4, Stewart 4, Milanese 5, Ainsworth 7, Lomas 7, Rowlands 7 (Bircham 89, -), Cook 7, Ward 7, Czerkas 5 (Jones 54, 7). Subs not used: Cole, Kanyuka. Goals: Rowlands 80 (pen), Baidoo 90 Bookings: Stewart 39 Leeds United: Warner 7, Kelly 7, Crainey 5, Butler 7, Healy 7 (Carole 76, 6), Horsfield 8 (Moore 84, -), Lewis 7, Stone 8, Bakke 7 (Westlake 50, 6), Derry 6, Kilgallon 6. Subs not used: Gregan, Blake. Goals: Lewis 65, Horsfield 82 Bookings: Crainey 6, Derry 45, Warner 79, Kilgallon 90 Previous ResultsHead to Head >>> QPR wins 20 >>> Draws 16 >>> Leeds wins 24 2019/20 Leeds 2 QPR 0 2018/19 QPR 1 Leeds 0 (Freeman) 2018/19 QPR 2 Leeds 1** (Oteh, Bidwell) 2018/19 Leeds 2 QPR 1 (Wells) 2017/18 Leeds 2 QPR 0 2017/18 QPR 1 Leeds 3 (Wszolek) 2016/17 Leeds 0 QPR 0 2016/17 QPR 3 Leeds 0 (Bamba og, Chery, Polter) 2015/16 Leeds 1 QPR 1 (Chery) 2015/16 QPR 1 Leeds 0 (Austin) 2013/14 QPR 1 Leeds 1 (Jenas) 2013/14 Leeds 0 QPR 1 (Hill) 2010/11 QPR 1 Leeds 2 (Helguson) 2010/11 Leeds 2 QPR 0 2006/07 Leeds 0 QPR 0 2006/07 QPR 2 Leeds 2 (Rowlands pen, Baidoo) 2005/06 Leeds 2 QPR 0 2005/06 QPR 0 Leeds 1 2004/05 QPR 1 Leeds 1 (Gallen) 2004/05 Leeds 6 QPR 1 (Ainsworth) 1995/96 QPR 1 Leeds 2 (Gallen) 1995/96 Leeds 1 QPR 3 (Dichio 2, Sinclair) 1994/95 Leeds 4 QPR 0 1994/95 QPR 3 Leeds 2 (Ferdinand 2, Gallen) 1993/94 QPR 0 Leeds 4 1993/94 Leeds 1 QPR 1 (Meaker) 1992/93 Leeds 1 QPR 1 (Ferdinand) 1992/93 QPR 2 Leeds 1 (Bardsley, Ferdinand) 1991/92 QPR 4 Leeds 1 (Ferdinand, Allen, Sinton, Wilson pen) 1991/92 Leeds 2 QPR 0 1990/91 QPR 2 Leeds 0 (Wegerle, Barker) 1990/91 QPR 0 Leeds 3* 1990/91 Leeds 2 QPR 3 (Wegerle 2, Wilkins) 1986/87 Leeds 2 QPR 0** 1982/83 QPR 1 Leeds 0 (Hart og) 1982/83 Leeds 0 QPR 1 (Allen) 1978/79 Leeds 4 QPR 3 (Walsh, Roeder, Busby) 1978/79 QPR 0 Leeds 2* 1978/79 QPR 1 Leeds 4 (Eastoe) 1977/78 QPR 0 Leeds 0 1977/78 Leeds 3 QPR 0 1976/77 Leeds 0 QPR 1 (Eastoe) 1976/77 QPR 0 Leeds 0 1975/76 QPR 2 Leeds 0 (Thomas, Bowles) 1975/76 Leeds 2 QPR 1 (Bowles (pen)) 1974/75 QPR 1 Leeds 1 (Givens) 1974/75 Leeds 0 QPR 1 (Francis) 1973/74 QPR 0 Leeds 1 1973/74 Leeds 2 QPR 2 (Thomas, Bowles) 1968/69 QPR 0 Leeds 1 1968/69 Leeds 4 QPR 1 (Wilks) 1951/52 QPR 0 Leeds 0 1951/52 Leeds 3 QPR 0 1950/51 Leeds 2 QPR 2 (Shepherd, Smith) 1950/51 QPR 3 Leeds 0 (Shepherd, Hatton (pen), Mills) 1949/50 QPR 1 Leeds 1 (Best) 1949/50 Leeds 1 QPR 1 (Pointon) 1948/49 QPR 2 Leeds 0 (Addinall 2) 1948/49 Leeds 1 QPR 2 (Gibbons, Pattison) 1931/32 QPR 3 Leeds 1** (Cribb, Rounce) * - League Cup ** - FA Cup
ConnectionsTony Ingham >>> Leeds 1947-1950 >>> QPR 1950-1963 Tony Ingham remains QPR’s record appearance holder to this day, despite leaving the club way back in 1963, and in the modern era it’s unlikely anybody is going to beat his 548 league and cup outings for the Super Hoops any time soon — particularly with the turnover of players at Loftus Road these days. Ingham was born in Harrogate in 1925 and spotted playing local football there as a 22 year old just after the Second World War. He served in the Royal Navy during the conflict, and completed an electrical apprenticeship while playing part-time for Harrogate Town which is where the local league side Leeds United picked him up from. He’d intended to be a full time electrician until that point. He stayed at Elland Road for four years, but only made three appearances for the senior team after finding himself stuck behind first John Charles and then Jimmy Milburn. He wasn’t exactly a regular at QPR either having moved down to London to join the R’s in 1950 for a fee of £5,000. He made his debut in a 2-1 home defeat by Doncaster Rovers in the Second Division in November 1950 (Cyril Hatton with the QPR goal) and only missed two matches for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he started the 1951/52 campaign out of the side and, bar two outings at the end of November and beginning of December in 2-0 and 4-0 defeats to Birmingham and Leicester respectively, he didn’t start playing regularly again until the Christmas and New Year period when he was recalled for a 3-2 home win against Swansea Town. Rangers were relegated from the Second Division into Third Division South that year. Ingham is quoted on the Leeds United history site saying: "One more point would have kept us up and we should have got that in one of our last games against Cardiff City. Alf Sherwood punched the ball off the line but the ref never saw it so we didn't even get a penalty let alone a goal. We were drawing at the time and that goal would have given us the extra point to stay up.” But in his third season with the club he made the transition into first team regular, missing just three matches in the entire Division Three South campaign. He was rarely out of the starting 11 for the following decade after that — remarkably completing the 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60 and 1960/61 seasons without missing a single league or cup game - 272 consecutive appearances. That meant, amazingly, that having returned to the side after a four match absence for a 1-0 win against Exeter on February 25 1956 he didn’t miss another competitive match until a 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth on September 16, 1961, some five and a half years later. Have that Armand Traore. Left back isn’t a position conducive to prolific goal scoring of course, and for all his loyal service he only managed six in his entire time with the club before retiring in 1963. But he was around for the start of the Alec Stock and Jim Gregory revolution at Loftus Road which would see Loftus Road entirely redeveloped and the club eventually become a top flight regular. Gregory dissuaded Ingham from leaving W12 in the early 1960s with an offer to stay on at the club after his retirement. Despite being a born and bred northerner, he came to call London and QPR home, staying on at Loftus Rod in various capacities for many years afterwards back in the days when a job at QPR was a job for life and people like the late Daphne Biggs would be around the club for decades. Ingham was commercial manager, club secretary and on the board of directors at various points. He had a suite in the South Africa Road stand named after him in recognition of his commitment and long service. Ingham died in April 2010 aged 85 following an illness. Others >>> Jack Clarke, QPR (loan) 2020, Leeds 2018/19 >>> Paddy Kenny, Leeds 2012-2014, QPR 2010-2012 >>> Neil Warnock, Leeds (manager) 2012-2013, QPR (manager) 2015-present, 2010-2012 >>> Hogan Ephraim, QPR 2007-2013, Leeds (loan) 2009-2010 >>> Shaun Derry, QPR 2010-2013, Leeds 2005-2008 >>> Rob Hulse, QPR 2010-2013, Leeds 2005-2006 >>> Liam Milller, QPR 2009, Leeds (loan) 2005-2006 >>> Simon Walton, QPR 2007-2008, Leeds 2004-2006 >>> Serge Branco, QPR 2004-2005, Leeds 2004 >>> Jerome Thomas, Leeds (loan) 2012-2013, QPR (loan) 2002 >>> Clarke Carlisle, Leeds 2004-2005, QPR 2000-2004 >>> Vinnie Jones, QPR 1998-1999, Leeds 1989-1990 >>> Mark Hateley, QPR 1995-1997, Leeds (loan) 1996 >>> Steve Hodge, QPR 1994-1995, Leeds 1991-1994 >>> Dougie Freedman, Leeds (loan) 2008, QPR 1992-1994 >>> David Seaman, QPR 1986-1990, Leeds 1981-1982 >>> Paul Hart, QPR (sort of manager) 2009-2010, Leeds 1978-1983 >>> Tony Currie, QPR 1979-1982, Leeds 1976-1979 >>> Clive Clark, QPR 1968-1970, 1958-1960, Leeds 1957-1958 >>>Terry Venables, Leeds (manager) 2002-2003, QPR (manager) 1980-1984, 1969-1974 >>> Joe Jordan, QPR (coach) 2012-present, Leeds 1970-1978 Tweet @loftforwords Pictures — Action Images Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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