Leeds 1-0 QPR: The Whites get back to winning ways - Mail 4/10/23

Leeds 1-0 QPR: The Whites get back to winning ways courtesy of Crysencio Summerville brace... but there was controversy at the death when Asmir Begovic was sent packing

 Crysencio Summerville's early goal was enough for Leeds to see off the hosts

 Asmir Begovic was sent off at the death but he didn't appear to make contact

By ADAM SHERGOLD

Leeds will need a few wins like this if they're to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Perfunctory, not the most exciting or inspiring but essential nonetheless. These simply have to be the home bankers against sides like Queens Park Rangers who are destined for a season of struggle.

Daniel Farke, twice promotion winner with Norwich, understands this only too well.

Not every performance can be polished, however many finely-tuned attackers you have at your disposal. Not every scoreline can be three or four-nil.

Some results, such as this one, don't tell the full story of your superiority but you still have to be satisfied. It's three points all the same.

Crysencio Summerville's early goal proved enough against a QPR side who offered next to nothing as if already resigned to a brutal relegation fight.

When Ilias Chair saw a tame shot saved by Ilian Meslier midway through the second-half, those diehards who'd made the long journey from west London chanted ironically: 'We've had a shot.'

They ended up with 10 men when goalkeeper Asmir Begovic brought down the clean through Patrick Bamford in stoppage time - though replays showed any contact to be minimal.

This led to the amusing spectacle of centre forward Lyndon Dykes donning the gloves with all Gareth Ainsworth's substitutes used up.

Unfortunately Leeds weren't able to properly test Dykes in the few remaining minutes but could be happy with Bamford's late injection of impetus as he builds up minutes following a hamstring injury.

Leeds really should have been out of sight by half-time and were a bit disjointed at times in the second 45 but this was the desired response to Saturday's dismal 3-1 defeat at Southampton.

'I told the lads in the dressing room I'm really proud of them,' said Farke.

'You can be on a great spell as we were before Southampton with four clean sheets and six unbeaten, but when you have one disappointing result the next game is unbelievably difficult.

'You have to grind out a result, it's never champagne or football fireworks. These type of games, when it's so tough, if you don't score the second goal you let them live.

'To bring this tight lead over the line and be there again with a clean sheet, is fantastic, and it is in these type of games you have to be there if you want to celebrate at the end of the season.'

Leeds started a lot better than they did at St Mary's, when they trailed by three after just half-an-hour, and led only nine minutes in.

There was an element of fortune, however, with the ball appearing to roll out of play - something spotted by neither the referee nor his assistant - before Sam Byram simply kept the ball moving and his team-mates didn't stop either.

It came to Georginio Rutter on the left and his square pass found Summerville in plenty of space to apply a deft finish into the bottom corner.

Summerville almost added a second but Jake Clarke-Salter blocked, while Bamford forced Begovic into a near-post save when brought on.

'I am the eternal optimist and we had a couple of chances late on to get a smash and grab point away at Elland Road,' said Ainsworth.

'Resilience-wise, I am very proud of the boys.'