Championship promotion race takes another twist as leaders are dealt title blow — Mail 15/3/25

QPR 2-2 Leeds: Championship promotion race takes another twist as leaders are dealt title blow despite fighting back from two goals down

QPR held Leeds to a point in a four-goal thriller at Loftus Road on Saturday

The hosts took a two-goal lead but the league leaders fought back to level terms

By JAMES COHEN

Just when Leeds thought they had overcome their shaky late-season form, Daniel Farke and his side were handed a reminder that this promotion race is far from over.

This time it was a struggling Queens Park Rangers side who upset the apple cart as they held Leeds to a draw and, as a result, put a major dent into Farke’s title hopes.

With their midweek win over Millwall fresh in the mind, Leeds hoped to follow up that with a fast start against QPR - who had lost four in a row prior to Saturday.

However it was the plucky west London underdogs who took control of the match after scoring twice in the first-half, before Leeds staged a comeback to earn a point in W12.

'I would never agree to a draw before the game because we're always playing to win,' Farke explained post match. 'But during this period of the season, where you're playing a third game in a week, it's a good point.

'I am angry with myself because until the early hours I was thinking about bringing [Ilia] Gruev in for our defensive side to show resilience. I had the green light from the medics but I was a bit too greedy and wanted to dominate the game'.

Instead, QPR winger Koki Saito was able to capitalise on Leeds' defensive frailties and score the opening goal of the afternoon after curling a stunning, first-time effort into the top corner.

The 23-year-old's strike was more than most QPR fans had expected in the match and, while they revelled in the scintillating effort, their side quickly found a second through veteran defender Steve Cook.

In the 30th minute, the former Bournemouth man rose highest to meet a floated cross from winger Paul Smyth and power a header into the back of the Leeds net.

'We spoke about the importance of starting on the front foot,' QPR boss Marti Cifuentes explained.

'In the last few matches, we've lacked urgency. But I think today we showed that from the beginning.

'But, when you play against quality teams, it doesn't take much for them to score goals and that was the reality.

'I'm aware that we played against a very good team, so the feeling is that we competed a very high level'.

Though Farke’s side appeared rattled by Rangers’ first-half onslaught, they managed to pull one back in the 40th minute through a Morgan Fox own-goal.

Scoring before the break proved vital for Leeds and, after the interval, they looked all the part of a Premier League hopeful as they dismantled the QPR defence time and time again.

And, just six minutes into the second-half, the visitors were level thanks to Jayden Bogle, who put the finishing touches on a blistering attack from Farke’s side.

Though their grit and determination helped earn a draw, it also came at a cost for QPR after goalscorer Saito was shown a red card for a nasty, studs-up challenge late on.