Team: Smithies, Bidwell, Hall, Caulker, Onuoha, Gladwin (Cousins), Luongo, Henry, Shodipo (Khayati), Chery (Perch), Polter
Subs Not Used: Ingram, Lynch, Kpekawa, Washington
Attendance: 16,764 (including 3,213 Leeds fans)
A good way to start the season, plenty to enjoy and be optimistic about, albeit, against a Leeds side that were poor and hardly threatened.
Gladwin didn’t impress and I was surprised that JFH let him start the second-half, seemed to be a red card waiting to happen! A few around me booed him when he was eventually subbed, I can’t see how that helps him, but some at Loftus Rod always need an ‘Official Club Scapegoat’.
Good to see Tony Currie at half-time, one of my favourite players from that era, I always remember his debut goal against Fulham.
Anyone else that day recall a plank of wood sailing out of the Loft End like a javelin and landing on the pitch, narrowly missing a steward?
Good old days…!
EastendeR
QPR opened their Championship campaign with a comfortable win against Leeds.
Rangers led early through a scrappy goal from a corner, with Nedum Onuoha appearing to bundle in from a yard out.
Onuoha almost provided a second goal before the interval, but Sebastian Polter saw his low left-footed shot hit a post from the defender’s ball in.
Tjaronn Chery’s penalty made it 2-0 after Ronaldo Vieira clumsily fouled Jordan Cousins, before Polter fired in a third with the game’s final touch.
New Leeds head coach Garry Monk saw his side get off to the worst possible start within four minutes.
The visitors, including former QPR goalkeeper Rob Green on debut, failed to clear a corner and Onuoha was among a number of bodies competing inside the six-yard box for the decisive final touch.
QPR striker Sebastian Polter caused Leeds’ defence problems and twice hit the upright in the opening 45 minutes as the visitors looked off the pace.
Monk’s side showed glimpses of an attacking threat in the second-half, but ¬£3m summer signing Kemar Roofe was among those who struggled to impose themselves.
Another new recruit, Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson, missed perhaps their best chance at 2-0 behind when he failed to hit the target with a one-on-one against QPR goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
Leeds’ misery was compounded with Polter’s strike just before full-time, as the German volleyed home from a tight angle.
QPR head coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: “It was a good start. Perfect? No. But it was a good start as we were organised, had control in the first-half and especially in the second.”
“Half-time came at the right time for us but then in the second-half we controlled it, had more energy and we played really well.”
“We only gave away one chance really with our sloppiness and it was a good performance where we can have a look and work on things we need to improve and get better at.”
Leeds head coach Garry Monk: “It is obviously disappointing and not the start we wanted. But this is just one game and I am confident we have the quality and the character in the group.”
“It’s a process and I said when I walked in that it’s not going to happen overnight. I trust all my players and trust they’re good enough and will improve.”
Adam Williams – BBC Sport
Impressive start for the R’s on Sunday and it was live on the tele!!!
Wonderful moment when the Morgan twins led the team out, Yeni Ngbakoto was introduced to the crowd and Tony Currie was interviewed at half-time (he diplomatically predicted 3-3 as the final score!).
Matt Webb’s interview in the programme with former club secretary Ron Phillips, was a very good read.
The early goal down at the School End was an all arms and legs scramble, and hopefully it will be confirmed as Ned’s, Dan, my neighbour in the Upper Loft, has 50-1 hanging on it. The goal then provoked a chant of ‘Greeno, Greeno’ from around the ground.
Not sure what’s going on with Ben Gladwin recently, he looked well off the pace, was booked in the first-half and could well have received a second yellow after the break before being subbed.
The visitors had a very good opportunity in the first-half, when the Leeds player, unmarked in the box, blazed the ball well over the crossbar.
They had another straight-forward chance in the second-half when the United player was put clean through and he drilled the ball wide of the far post. In fact, the visitors didn’t manage a single shot on target in the whole game!
Probably still not 100% match fit, Jordan Cousins was introduced after 56 minutes, and once again he looked very good on the ball. He won a penalty in the 73rd minute and Chery stepped up to place the ball wide of Rob Green in the far corner.
Sebastian Polter was superb again. There was a wonderful passage of play in the first-half, which resulted in his effort coming off the post. And how much did he deserve that goal in added time! He made it look fairly easy when he belted the ball in the far corner from an acute angle.
Now hoping for a bit of a cup run, starting on Wednesday night. Well you never know!!!
Steve Russell