Leeds United vs QPR: Kemar Roofe double maintains Leeds’ promotion push

Leeds United 2 : 1 QPR

A Kemar Roofe double saw Leeds United come from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Elland Road.

Roofe’s penalty winner was enough for Marcelo Bielsa’s men to take all three points and keep up their title charge as they secured their fourth win in as many games.

On a wet and windy day in West Yorkshire both sides failed to establish a rhythm as the slick pitch conditions saw the ball frequently out of play.

The hosts did foster chances. Pablo Hernandez found Roofe at the near post just two minutes into the game but the forward guided his effort wide.

Hernandez and Samuel Saiz both troubled the visiting defence but could not trouble Joe Lumley in the QPR goal.

Academy product Jamie Shackleton made just his second start for the first-team and looked acomplished in his role. Starting at right-back, the 19-year-old have the visitors plenty to think about as raided down the right.

The home faithful grew frustrated with their side’s endevours as the visitors’ organisation made it touch for Bielsa’s men.

Their frustrations were exacerbated when Mateusz Klich went into the book following a tough challenge on Massimo Luongo. Bielsa occupied his bucket as is customary as his Leeds team toiled on.

Finally the deadlock was broken and, perhaps, against the run of play. Nahki Wells sprinted into the box onto the end of an Angel Rangel pass and his left-foot strike was calmly slotted past Bailey Peakcock-Farrell in the Leeds goal.

Elland Road became a hotbed of grumbles thereafter with the Whites struggling to break down the solid away side.

Those groans turned to cheers right on the stroke of half-time as Roofe levelled for the hosts. QPR failed to clear their lines after from a Hernandez cross and the ball squirmed through to the English striker for him to prod Leeds level and bag his ninth league goal of the season.

The hosts were ahead five minutes into the second half thanks to a Roofe penalty. The striker brilliantly chested down a long pass from Adam Forshaw before attempting to bring the ball down. However, Toni Leistner intercepted the ball with his hand and referee Peter Bankes pointed to the spot.

Roofe stepped up to take the spot kick and sent Lumley the wrong way as he gave Leeds the advantage and his tenth league goal of the campaign.

He could have had his hattrick shortly after but he passed up two chances in quick succession. First came a 25-yard curling strike which was beaten away by Lumley. Next Roofe found himself one-on-one with the QPR shot-stopper but his side-footed effort from a tight angle was not enough to beat the 23-year-old goalkeeper at his near post.

QPR had theirn chances to equalise. Luongo missed a guilt-edged one to restore parity with 20 minutes to play. Rangel tricked his way into some space on the right and got into the penalty area. The former Swansea City man smartly cut the ball back for the Australian but his effort from 18-yards out was well over the crossbar.

With ten minutes to go the heavens opened again leading to both sides fighting against the elements and the pitch.

The hosts looked to stabalise things and take the sting out of the game while Steve McClaren threw on forward Matt Smith in search of an equaliser.

The visitors pushed for their second goal leading to anxiety in the stands but the hosts held firm to maintain their title charge.