Damned United! Leeds lose to send Foxes up as QPR seal survival
LEICESTER CITY’S return to the Premier League at the first time of asking was confirmed after Leeds fell to defeat against QPR. Goals from Ilias Chair, Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field ensured a third defeat in five for Daniel Farke’s side, who look set for the play-offs unless Ipswich fail to capitalise.
The Tractor Boys are one point behind Leeds but have two games in hand and a golden opportunity now to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002. Kieran McKenna’s side go to Hull City tonight, before travelling to Coventry City on Tuesday. If they win both, promotion will be confirmed before the final game of the season a week today.
Just like at Middlesbrough on Monday, Leeds went behind in the opening 10 minutes through a goal that should have been avoided, but this time, there was no comeback.
Chair was allowed to cut in on his right foot and his strike from distance deflected off Joe Rodon before flying past keeper Illan Meslier. Minutes later, Leeds failed to deal with Andersen’s long throw-in, with the ball returning to the Denmark international. He curled in a wicked left-footed strike for his first QPR goal.
Leeds had chances of their own with Asmir Begovic denying Joel Piroe and Crysencio Summerville in the first half.
After the break, Georginio Rutter dragged wide from a few yards out before Begovic made another brilliant save to deny Mateo Joseph on a night of frustration for the visitors.
Their misery was confirmed when Dykes headed in from Chair’s corner before Field nodded in from Chair’s free-kick as Marti Cifuentes’s side secured their Championship status with a deserved victory. Leeds, despite an unbeaten run from the start of this year until April 6, have capitulated in the last few weeks with just four points from a possible 15. Ultimately, that looks to be the difference between a play-off spot and automatic promotion.