While Queens Park Rangers are left to sweat about the verdict of the tribunal into their alleged wrongdoing, Simon Grayson has told his players to focus on the job in hand tomorrow.
Unbelievably, the verdict on the issues surrounding QPR’s signing of Alejandro Faurtin has been delayed yet again. Given that the FA have known since September that QPR had a case to answer, it’s ridiculous that it’s going to take them until the last day of the season to reach a decision. Surely either QPR are either guilty or they’re not.
They’ve now decided that QPR will be presented with the trophy after the game, even though they might have to give it back if they suffer a points deduction, and the play-offs will be going ahead as originally scheduled. A few weeks ago I had been hoping that QPR would already be promoted before this game, so they had nothing to play for on the day, but now we can only guess how all this messing about will affect their preparation for the game.
For our part, Simon Grayson is determined not be distracted by QPR’s situation. He told the official site "It really doesn't interest me. There's a lot of talk and speculation, but we're preparing for a normal game against a team who has been proven to be the best over 46 games. They could be bubbling about celebrating promotion, they could be bubbling about whatever the outcome is of this hearing - but they will want to win, and we'll be looking to spoil the party. We owe it to the 1,800 Leeds fans who are travelling down there."
Unless QPR get at least 17 points deducted, we can only reach the play-offs if we win tomorrow and Forest lose to Crystal Palace, with a combined margin of six goals between the two games. All of which is fairly unlikely, and Simon Grayson has admitted a sense of disappointment as he faces the final game. "We'd have taken this at the start of the season - but that's not an excuse for not having a better opportunity this week. With three or four games left we had a great opportunity, that's now a lot less, but we'll still go there, give it our best shot, and see what happens.”
Leeds will again be without Luciano Becchio due to his hamstring problem, and the injury is likely to need an operation that would rule him out of the play-offs even if we should manage to get there. But there is better news at the other end of the field, as Patrick Kisnorbo could be back in the squad after 14 months out with an Achilles injury. I would have thought it’s unlikey that he’d go straight back into a game against the top side in the division, but at least he’ll have the whole summer to prepare for next season.
Apart from their off-field problems, QPR have a few injury problems to contend with. They will have to assess goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who hurt his shoulder in the warm-up at Watford last weekend, but Clint Hill could be back as he doesn’t need an operation on his troublesome ankle. On the other hand, Fitz Hall will miss out with a hamstring strain.
If you’re not going to Loftus Road in person, don’t forget that it’s being televised live on BBC1, with a 12.45 kick-off. Oh, and I don’t think a miracle is going to happen, and the best Leeds can really hope for is a draw.