Leeds overwhelmed Queens Park Rangers with an excellent all-round team performance, and moved up to second place in the Championship thanks to two goals from Max Gradel.
The game was one of the few in the Football League to survive the awful weather, thanks to the famous undersoil heating and some more fine work from the Elland Road groundstaff. The Leeds starting line-up was unchanged as Grayson kept faith with a five man midfield, but after eleven minutes he was forced to make a change as Bruce limped off to be replaced by Bromby.
This worried me, as the last time I saw Bromby was in that awful pre-season friendly at Bury and he’s been out of favour ever since, but he had a comfortable game and on this form he should at least come into contention for a starting place at the back. After a frantic opening Leeds created the first real chance, when a good cross from Connolly saw Becchio try a neat backheader, which Kenny just managed to tip over the bar.
Leeds began to enjoy the bulk of the possession, with Johnson having a good game in the holding role, keeping it simple and not trying anything fancy, while Gradel and Snodgrass were troubling the Rangers defence down the flanks. But QPR were looking dangerous on the break and Taarbat made a dangerous run down the middle, untroubled by a challenge from the Leeds defence, and his shot drifted only just wide of the post, though the Morroccan was convinced they should have had a corner for a deflection off Collins.
Leeds deservedly took the lead in the 25th minute, the goal coming after Snodgrass twisted one way and then the other and finally got the better of Schwarz to send his cross to the far post. Howson knocked it down and Gradel rushed in to hammer it past Kenny with his left foot. The goal seemed to settle Leeds down and we played some breathtaking football at times, with Howson and Gradel linking well for one great passing move that ended up with a disappointing finish from Mad Max.
QPR came out for the second half looking a bit more determined (no doubt following a bit of a rocket from Mr.Warnock) and battled hard to get back into the game, with Derry in particular putting himself about, but without converting any of their possession into clear cut chances. Instead it was Leeds who nearly grabbed the next goal, when Becchio burst down the left, only for his shot from the edge of the area to be turned round the post by Kenny.
But the second goal did arrive with 20 minutes remaining. Gradel collected Mc.Cartney’s clearance in his own half of the field, and was able to run forwards unchallenged then turned Hall a couple of times on the edge of the area, before firing past Kenny into the net. Leeds could have tightened up from then on to make the game safe, but instead kept running at the QPR defence, and Kenny was forced to make a great save from a fine shot from Howson.
The Rangers keeper was also called to save from Becchio and Snodgrass, while Becchio should have done better with a free header, but Leeds were never troubled during the remaining time and comfortably held on for a memorable win against the league leaders. With our unbeaten run stretching to nine games we moved up to second in the table as Swansea again dropped points and Cardiff didn’t play.
This all seems incredible after some of the awful performances earlier in the season, but there is clearly a great team spirit developing throughout this Leeds squad, and who knows what we might achieve this season.