RANGERS IMPRESS WITH VICTORY OVER FALTERING LEEDS
QPR’S IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER LEEDS ALSO GIVES THEIR NEIGHBOURS A HELPING HAND
DEFIANT Queens Park Rangers produced a brilliant 1-0 win against Leeds United in the Championship – a result that helped west London rivals Brentford’s automatic promotion chances at the same time.
It came courtesy of Nahki Wells, whose 20th minute goal was enough, although a goal that would have been disallowed in the Premier League as he controlled with his arm before scoring.
Hoops’ keeper Liam Kelly played a major part in the victory, saving a penalty from Patrick Bamford, who once again missed big chances for faltering United.
Rangers defended superbly and bounced back from the 3-1 defeat at Brentford the previous week.
Boss Mark Warburton told the club’s website: “We probably gave away too many cheap set pieces in terms of corners and free-kicks, but to a man we defended them really well, got first contact and looked dangerous on the break. Leeds are a team that you have to transition on and play forward, and we did that many times.
“We were very good for long periods so all credit to the players.”
On the possible handball goal, he added: “It is what it is, but over the course of the season these sorts of things seem to even themselves out.”
Brentford missed the opportunity of closing the gap even further to the top two in the Championship with a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town.
However, they did edge closer thanks to that Leeds United defeat – a rare occasion when Bees’ fans cheered a Rangers victory.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank was philosophical and said: “On the day our front three, and in general all over the pitch, maybe didn’t have that extra touch, extra good pass, that extra good decision.
“When none of the front three are really on it you need something special from nowhere and we didn’t have that today.”
Fourth-placed Brentford are only five points off the automatic promotion places.
Meanwhile, Fulham are just four points behind Leeds in third place after they beat Middlesbrough on Friday night by a single goal from Anthony Knockaert in the sixth minute.