Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was pleased with his team’s performance against Queens Park Rangers.
The sexy football of the last home game was missing for much of this game, but the Whites were still worthy winners, as seen by the 16 shots to four count.
After they had entire control in the first half and were ahead thanks to a ninth-minute Crysencio Summerville goal, the game turned into a battle game after the break.
Leeds were relieved to hear the final whistle despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men late in the game when goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was sent off for denying Patrick Bamford a goal scoring opportunity.
“I’m proud of the boys because playing a game after a loss is always difficult,” Farke remarked.
“We got five clean sheets in six games, and it was a perfect win because you can’t always drink champagne; sometimes a proper pint is just as good, and this was a proper pint game.”
“I’m even happier with a dirty win; these are significant.”
“We are unbeaten at home so far, and back-to-back wins at home is encouraging.”
“The table isn’t important, but the results and performances are, especially in the first game after a loss.”
“It’s not always possible to blow an opponent away with sexy football and crazy goals, as we did in our last home game against Watford.” But if you want to carry a trophy one day, you have to win these kinds of games.”
“Because you don’t score the second, you get more and more nervous,” Farke remarked. It’s football time. We’ve still dominated every statistic, but there’s one hiccup, one ball goes through, and thank God Illan was in the correct position.
“I’m glad we won and brought this close lead over the line.” To be there again with a clean sheet and to respond to a heartbreaking loss with a win is what you need if you want to be there at the end of the season to celebrate.”
Georginio Rutter fires up Elland Road as Leeds United leads Watford 1-0.
Leeds took control fast, going ahead after 10 minutes after Sam Byram reclaimed the ball and Georginio Rutter brilliantly played in Summerville to strike past Begovic.
When Joe Rodon headed wide from five yards out after getting on the end of a Summerville corner, they could have immediately gone two up.
With little coming back the other way, Leeds created another great opportunity as Rutter’s fine run and pull back set up Summerville, but he couldn’t double his tally as he shot to the other side, where defender Jake Clarke-Salter made a goal saving block.
Pascal Struijk headed over under pressure from a corner, then Ethan Ampadu picked out Sam Byram at the far post, only for his volley from a difficult angle to go wide.
Leeds could not wrap up the game by half-time, and it summed up their night when Jaidon Anthony’s deflected shot dropped perfectly for Luke Ayling, but the full-back squandered the opportunity by miscontrolling the ball.
The visitors successfully broke up play in the second half, and the Whites lost their flow. Rangers had the first notable shot, as Ilias Chair’s strike from 22 yards forced the first save from home keeper Illan Meslier.
Archie Gray, who played well in midfield with Ampadu, curled a shot wide at the opposite end, and control was re-established for a while.
Substitute Dan James cut in from the left wing and struck a low shot that Begovic easily stopped.
After coming off the bench, fellow sub Bamford made an immediate impact, racing onto Rutter’s long pass to fire a powerful angled shot that had to be well saved low down.
Soon after, Rodon headed down a James corner, but Struijk managed to scoop the ball over from three yards out.
Rangers had a chance to win a point when Jimmy Dunne flicked on a long ball and Lyndon Dykes stabbed a shot goalwards, but Meslier saved from close range.
Struijk’s long pass appeared to have contributed to the important second goal, as Bamford raced onto it and poked the ball beyond the onrushing Begovic, who was adjudged to have pulled the Leeds player down. Although there was no contact, the keeper came out with his foot lifted, denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity with the goal behind him unattended.
Begovic was shown a red card as a result, and with no substitutes available, QPR were forced to place striker Dykes in goal for the remaining 10 minutes of additional time.
Bamford’s ensuing free-kick from the edge of the box failed to worry Dykes, and the stand-in did not have to make a save as Leeds were more intent on seeing the game out than scoring a second goal in the dying seconds.
It was a dismal ending to the game, but United were untroubled at the back and completed the 1-0 win that lifted them back up the table following their devastating setback to Southampton last Saturday.
They will now try to capitalize further with another home encounter against Bristol City on Saturday.
1 Leeds United
(9 Summerville)
Rangers of Queens Park 0
The 4th of October, 2023
Championship Sky Bet
There were 32,663 people in attendance.
Meslier, Ayling, Roden, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu, Gray; Summerville (Poveda 80), Piroe (Bamford 65), Anthony (James 65), Rutter (Cresswell 90+10).
Begovic (90+2); Kakay (Dunne 73), Cook (Larkeche 84), Clarke-Salter, Paal; Smyth (Adomah 45), Colback (Dozzell 45), Field, Chair; Dykes (Kolli 78).
David Webb is the referee.
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