Simon Burnton’s on-the-whistle report has dropped in, which signals my departure. I send my love to the QPR fans in my life (all two of them).
“Michael Hann’s email about his son’s performance tonight is a good chance to put in a link to this article from eleven years ago,” writes Hal Johnson. Amazing!
Here’s a full look at the Championship table.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 44 | 47 | 94 |
| 2 | Leeds | 45 | 39 | 90 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 43 | 32 | 89 |
| 4 | Southampton | 44 | 24 | 84 |
| 5 | West Brom | 44 | 23 | 72 |
| 6 | Norwich | 44 | 16 | 72 |
| 7 | Hull | 44 | 9 | 69 |
| 8 | Coventry | 43 | 13 | 63 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 4 | 63 |
| 10 | Preston North End | 44 | -5 | 63 |
| 11 | Cardiff | 44 | -11 | 62 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 44 | 4 | 59 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 44 | 1 | 56 |
| 14 | Swansea | 44 | -5 | 56 |
| 15 | Watford | 44 | 1 | 53 |
| 16 | QPR | 45 | -12 | 53 |
| 17 | Millwall | 44 | -12 | 53 |
| 18 | Stoke | 44 | -16 | 50 |
| 19 | Blackburn | 44 | -16 | 49 |
| 20 | Plymouth | 44 | -11 | 48 |
| 21 | Sheff Wed | 44 | -29 | 47 |
| 22 | Birmingham | 44 | -16 | 46 |
| 23 | Huddersfield | 44 | -27 | 44 |
| 24 | Rotherham | 44 | -53 | 24 |
Who’s joining them?
Straight back up, Leicester City! 🦊 pic.twitter.com/j89S1qiuqB
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 26, 2024
Ilias Chair was the standout outfield player tonight. He got things going with his goal, cutting in from the left before launching a low strike past Meslier. Two excellent set-piece deliveries followed in the second half but Asmir Begovic was key too for QPR, making some fine saves in net.
FULL-TIME: QPR 4-0 Leeds (Leicester City are promoted!)
A horrid night is over for Leeds. QPR are safe. Leicester are up. Ipswich are pretty happy, too. Who saw that coming?
Updated
90+5 min: Anthony’s low shot from outside the box lacks any venom; Begovic gets down and holds on with ease.
90+3 min: Anthony sends in a fine curling ball towards the far post from the left … but there’s no finishing touch on the end of it.
90+1 min: Six minutes are added on as QPR press forward for a fifth (!). The offside flag gets in the way of that.
90 min: “Leicester fan here,” writes a relieved Peter Flood. “This result is making me much less uncomfortable about the wild scenes at the King Power after the Southampton game and the subsequent hubris of fellow foxes who were acting like we were already up. Cus now we are!
89 min: Gelhardt cuts in from the right and fires his shot well over Begovic and the bar.
88 min: A number of subs are made but it’s all about the final whistle now.
GOAL! QPR 4-0 Leeds (Field 86)
QPR take their time with a free-kick out on the right that Chair stands over … eventually it comes in … and it’s FOUR! It’s a delicious ball and Field, under next to no pressure, heads in with power and placement.
Updated
83 min: Very tidy feet from Anthony to escape some pressure in his own half.
82 min: A corner for Leeds that causes no havoc, dealt with before it threatened the near post. Boy has this been a tired display.
80 min: Jamie Vardy, most likely, is having a party.
79 min: Piroe tries an audacious shot from range. It’s a poor attempt that flies high into the night sky.
78 min: Summerville and Georginio are off; Gelhardt and Anthony come on.
77 min: Gnonto tries to dance his way through the middle … the ball trickles its way to Begovic, who has had a terrific night in goal.
75 min: The QPR fans are singing loud and proud.
GOAL! QPR 3-0 Leeds (Dykes 73)
Corner for QPR – there have been so, so many – which Chair sends in … and Dykes gets the final touch! The ball in is a fine one and Dykes, at the near post, guides in a very cute header to put an end to this contest. Leicester are going up; Leeds, most likely, to the playoffs. QPR ain’t going anywhere (in a good way).
Updated
70 min: Meslier goes sliding out of goal to deny Smyth from getting in his ball from the right. The QPR sub looks a lively presence.
69 min: Smyth shows off some quick feet on the right for QPR before cutting back a low ball in. Leeds halt any potential danger.
68 min: The lively Chair (I made myself laugh with that, sue me) has a shot deflected over the bar for a corner.
66 min: A nice dummy from Georginio lets Summerville on to the ball before Firpo crosses from the left, and Begovic makes an excellent save to deny Mateo Joseph from close range in the middle. To make matters worse for Leeds, the referee gives a goalkick.
64 min: A yellow for Colback as he kicks the ball away after the whistle is blown.
62 min: Colback gets on the remains of a corner, and his shot is deflected wide. Byram is off for Leeds, with Mateo Joseph replacing him.
61 min: Chair is pulled back as he cuts inside, but he keeps going and lets a shot fly … Ampadu heads it away for a corner. For a second, I though that was going to wrong-foot the keeper and fly into the net.
Updated
60 min: All rather quiet at the moment I have to say. “Live from the West Paddock at Loftus Road,” writes Michael Hann. “Disappointed to see no reference to the individual performance of the first half - my son, who twice headed the ball back on to the pitch from the crowd. His Opta stats will look great.” My apologies, Michael.
58 min: Andersen, scorer of the second goal, is replaced by Paul Smyth.
57 min: Leeds work it around at the back before Summerville drops deep to receive. QPR hold their shape as Leeds stay patient but Dunne blocks a Firpo cross once again.
56 min: Now a corner for Andersen, who has been taking his sweet time with set-pieces. His low ball in causes little danger.
55 min: QPR have a free-kick from range, one for Andersen to whip into the mixer … Rodon heads away.
52 min: “Enjoying your company,” writes Anna Poppa. Thanks, Anna. “Leeds look tired tonight. I blame the schedulers! I have loved watching Leeds this season but two games in five days is a right liberty at this point. And yet… Jaidon Anthony to come on and turn it around. Come on Leeeeeeds!”
50 min: Dunne races back to get in the way of a Firpo cross.
49 min: Now a corner for QPR … Andersen to deliver. He send it in flat but it’s cleared away. Chair picks up the leftovers and sends in a cross, which is headed wide.
47 min: Better from Leeds. Summerville switches the ball to Byram out on the right, who crosses in to the box. Georginio glances his header wide.
46 min: Gnonto advances down the right before encountering traffic.
Peep again!
We go again. No changes made and Leeds begin with the ball.
Some earlier correspondence I missed from Adam Griffiths. “Is Leeds’ away kit the result of them losing a bet, possibly with Peppa Pig?” Yep, not the tidiest number.
Updated
“Hi Taha, to those of us of a certain vintage it brings back memories of when things were not behind paywalls,” writes Antony T. “Loftus Road for a Friday night game live on BBC (cos it was next door), as the sun sets over a spring day. File with watching athletics on a Friday night from Oslo or Helsinki in the permanent twilight of mid summer looking strangely exotic from Brum. Willing on Steve Cram. Maybe Peter Elliott. Sergei Bubka going for another WR. Sorry, went off on one there. Anyway this Villa fan is loving the work of QPR for some reason….(Sorry Leeds fans).”
HALF-TIME: QPR 2-0 Leeds
Daniel Farke, have a word. QPR have been the better side, particularly in the first quarter when they scored their two goals. Leeds have grown into the game, getting in some decent crosses but with no one delivering at the end of them. Summerville has been kept quiet. As things stand, Leicester City are 45 minutes away from a confirmed return to the big time.
Updated
45+1 min: Two minutes are added on as the game turns scrappy in midfield, possession won and then easily relinquished by both sides.
45 min: Firpo whips in a delicious ball across goal from the left … but there’s no Leeds forward on the end of it. The camera pans to Patrick Bamford in the stands.
44 min: Byram and Gnonto play a series of one-twos out on the right before Leeds win a corner. Gruev delivers … and the ball is headed away multiple times from danger by QPR.
42 min: Paal jinks his way down the left before Chair picks it up and does the same, though his cross lacks the right power and direction, going out for a goalkick.
40 min: Leeds lacking the clinical edge in front of goal at the moment; their buildup is nice as Byram crosses in from the right, but Georginio, in the middle, can’t get it down to smash home.
38 min: Leeds have a corner … Summerville swings it in from the left and Begovic collects.
36 min: Piroe lofts a ball into the box for Gnonto to chase on to; the Leeds man can’t get a shot away though as he waits for the ball to bounce right for him, with Clarke-Salter getting back in time to put him off.
34 min: There’s a sequence of a gazillion headers in midfield before someone, in their infinite wisdom, decides to keep it on the carpet.
32 min: Begovic saves well after Summerville hits a first-time volley inside the box from a Gnonto ball in. Better from Leeds.
31 min: Gruev slides in a fine ball through the lines for Gnonto to pick up outside the box; he loses it with his pass, though.
30 min: QPR work it patiently from left to right, and back to Chair on the left again. It’s a sustained period on the ball, and the home fans take a moment to appreciate it as well. Leeds can’t get a proper foot on it.
28 min: Colback gets on the end of a stray pass and QPR venture down the right before Georginio dances through midfield for the visitors. Leeds lose it in the attacking third.
26 min: How are you feeling, Leicester fans?
24 min: Gruev was the man in front of Andersen when the QPR man let fly for that goal but couldn’t properly close him down. QPR look far sharper at the moment.
GOAL! QPR 2-0 Leeds (Andersen 22)
Leeds are having a shocker! Andersen launches a long throw from the right that works its way back to him. He slips inside the box, quickly shifts on to his left foot and whips the ball past Meslier’s dive to the right. A terrific hit and Leeds need to wake up.
Updated
21 min: Willock, who has been amongst it, has a cross from the right cleared away.
19 min: QPR continue to threaten, Paal drifting into the Leeds half before crossing for Dykes, whose diving header trickles wide. QPR have a silly amount of space out on the left when venturing forward.
17 min: Andersen whips in a better free-kick this time round, and the ball drops nicely for Chair to have a swing inside the box … but the ball flies high and over.
16 min: QPR have a free-kick that is wasted by Andersen, who passes straight to a Leeds player. And then a dreadful challenge from Byram on Chair out on QPR’s left; he only gets the man, and a yellow card, too.
14 min: The corner is dealt with and QPR break, but Leeds retreat and Colback commits a foul deep inside the visitors’ half.
13 min: Leeds’ first proper go at QPR. Gruev splits the midfield with a fine pass and they work it around well inside the box before Piroe lets fly. Begovic saves well to his left and it’s cleared for a corner.
11 min: Just bizarre how much room Chair had there, allowed so easily to dribble and let loose.
GOAL! QPR 1-0 Leeds (Chair 8)
What a start for the hosts! Chair picks up the ball in so much space inside the Leeds half; he drives forward, cuts on to his right foot and launches a shot from just outside the box. There’s a slight deflection, I think, and the ball finds the bottom right corner past the diving Meslier. A moment of joy for QPR and, of course, Leicester.
Updated
7 min: Dunne, running back towards his own goal, clears away for a Leeds throw. He’s got a serious battle on his hands this evening, having to deal with the electric Summerville.
6 min: Willock breaks through the middle of the field, but can’t nail his pass to the supporting Dykes. QPR have started well against a side at the opposite end of the table.
5 min: Gray intercepts for Leeds high up the pitch and eventually laces a cross into the box from the left. QPR clear it to safety.
4 min: A quiet start to proceedings as Leeds pass it around at the back.
2 min: Chair, out on the left, fails to bring down a long diagonal ball from the back.
1 min: Dunne advances forward for QPR and is in the opposition box, but the ball is diverted out for a goalkick. Meslier clears from just outside the box for a QPR throw on the left.
Peep!
Off we go. QPR in their usual blue-and-white, Leeds not all that pretty in pink. The hosts kick first, moving from right to left.
Not far away now from kick-off. Sort your snacks, tea, whatever you consume.
“Taha, greeting from California.” Hello to you, Mary Waltz. “When it appeared that my beloved Everton was going down I began to try to learn a bit about the Championship. I have followed the chase for the last 10 weeks and started watching the Second Tier podcast. I found a distinctly different atmosphere from the PL and the fact that there wasn’t VAR was a plus. I am looking forward to the playoffs and to get a jump on the teams Everton will be fighting for relegation next year.”
“I’d rather it not be like that,” Joe Rodon tells Sky, reflecting on Leeds’ thrilling 4-3 win over Middlesbrough. Um, Joe, have a think about the neutrals, please.
Here’s John Brewin, by the way, making his case.
So Leeds are without Patrick Bamford; in comes Joël Piroe to lead the line. QPR have the same XI that beat Preston.
QPR: Begovic, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal, Field, Colback, Willock, Andersen, Chair, Dykes
Subs: Smyth, Hayden, Fox, Dixon-Bonner, Cannon, Larkeche, Armstrong, Walsh, Adomah
Leeds: Meslier, Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, Gray, Gruev, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville, Piroe
Subs: Crew, Cresswell, Cooper, Kamara, Anthony, Shackleton, Darlow, Gelhardt, Fernández
Referee: Darren Bond
Updated
The teams
Here’s how they’re looking tonight.
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
— QPR FC (@QPR) April 26, 2024
The R's are unchanged 🤝
📋 Your #LUFC Starting XI... pic.twitter.com/IS9WbC8VId
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 26, 2024
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of Leeds United’s trip down to Loftus Road. Both sides find themselves competing for different things: another season in the Championship would be delicious for 18th-placed QPR; for Leeds, currently second, it would taste like gone-off milk.
The good news for tonight’s hosts is that they aren’t far off confirming safety. A victory this evening – following on from their 1-0 win over Preston last weekend – will keep them in the second tier.
Leeds, meanwhile, are looking over their shoulder – they sit one point ahead of Ipswich but having played an extra game. They had a wild time at Boro the other night, nicking it 4-3, but how they’d just love to claim a calm, composed strolling three points in London. But a Friday dalliance in the capital seems primed for, at the very least, a bit of drama. Kick-off’s at 8pm BST.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 44 | 47 | 94 |
| 2 | Leeds | 44 | 43 | 90 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 43 | 32 | 89 |
| 4 | Southampton | 44 | 24 | 84 |
| 5 | West Brom | 44 | 23 | 72 |
| 6 | Norwich | 44 | 16 | 72 |
| 7 | Hull | 44 | 9 | 69 |
| 8 | Coventry | 43 | 13 | 63 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 4 | 63 |
| 10 | Preston North End | 44 | -5 | 63 |
| 11 | Cardiff | 44 | -11 | 62 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 44 | 4 | 59 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 44 | 1 | 56 |
| 14 | Swansea | 44 | -5 | 56 |
| 15 | Watford | 44 | 1 | 53 |
| 16 | Millwall | 44 | -12 | 53 |
| 17 | Stoke | 44 | -16 | 50 |
| 18 | QPR | 44 | -16 | 50 |
| 19 | Blackburn | 44 | -16 | 49 |
| 20 | Plymouth | 44 | -11 | 48 |
| 21 | Sheff Wed | 44 | -29 | 47 |
| 22 | Birmingham | 44 | -16 | 46 |
| 23 | Huddersfield | 44 | -27 | 44 |
| 24 | Rotherham | 44 | -53 | 24 |
