ROOFE-LESS Kemar Leeds the way for on-form United
KEMAR ROOFE’S goal rampage made it four wins on the spin for Marcelo Bielsa’s buccaneering side.
Right now the force is with Leeds as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
For most of the game Bielsa, who has breathed new life and ambition into the club, could sit contently on his blue bucket trusting his side to continue their exciting progress despite falling a goal behind.
The Leeds manager said: “It’s very difficult in this Championship to win four games in a row. It’s even more difficult to deserve to win all four.
“These 12 points have come after the bad loss against West Brom (4-1). Now we need to maintain the gap between ourselves and the third placed team ( five points).”
Last season Roofe struck four goals against QPR including a hat-trick at Elland Road.
Sadly for Loftus Road boss Steve Mcclaren lightning can strike twice although most of his ire and frustration was directed at referee Peter Bankes.
It couldn’t prevent Roofe adding another two goals to his impressive haul – it’s now 10 in the Championship so far.
Leeds, fluid, inventive and full of early energy had been rocked by a goal out of nothing from Nahki Wells.
In the 26th minute a ball from Angel Rangel saw Wells with space and time to move forward into the area and fire low past Bailey Peacock-farrell.
It was his fourth goal after arriving on loan from Burnley in August where he hardly got a look-in.
It had been tough on Bielsa’s side who, buoyant from three straight wins, had carried all the threat without making the breakthrough.
But the club’s leading scorer wasn’t to be denied and deep into three minutes added time he h struck for his ninth Championship o goal of the season.
Once again Leeds laid siege t to the QPR goal and Pablo Hern nandez managed to thread the b ball past a clutch of bodies for R Roofe to stab in.
That didn’t help Mcclaren’s m mood, the Rangers boss already a angry at what he perceived was L Leeds defender Kalvin Phillips k kicking out at Geoff Cameron at a free-kick.
His blood pressure rose even higher when skipper Toni Leistner was adjudged to have handled inside his own area.
Mcclaren fumed: “You should see the referee’s position! He has got fantastic eyes. He can obviously see through players.”
Leeds were last awarded a spot kick 58 games ago so there was some discussion over who was going to take it.
No surprise that Roofe strode forward to bury it.
Goal number 10 and a fourth straight victory in front of another 30,000-plus crowd.