It all went wrong for Leeds United at Loftus Road last Friday and even Daniel Farke has admitted he made a mistake that led to two of QPR’s four goals in the second half.
Going into Friday’s clash, Leeds were in an excellent position and boasted the chance to go four points clear of Ipswich Town in second place. The opportunity to pile on the pressure on Kieran McKenna’s side.
But as we all know it was a shock result and a heavy defeat for Leeds in London. QPR taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half, and then doubling that lead in the second half through two set-pieces to win 4-0.
A dismal defeat for Leeds that allowed Ipswich to go level on points with a draw against Hull, and then a win over Coventry. Second is still a possibility for Leeds but the odds are stacked againstFarke’s men.
Leeds need to win against an impressive fourth-placed Southampton side and hope Huddersfield do the unlikely at Ipswich. It seems unlikely with a place in the play-offs expected and the final on May 26.
Farke spoke in his press conference on Thursday afternoon about the defeat at QPR and even admitted that he made a mistake himself, his decision to bring on Mateo Joseph for Sam Byram in the second half.
Daniel Farke admits mistake at bringing Sam Byram off at QPR
With Leeds unable to get a goal back and the score line still reading 2-0 to QPR, Farke decided to take off Byram and replace him with Joseph on 63 minutes with Byram picking up a yellow card in the first half.
But it backfired with QPR going on to score two more goals from set-pieces through Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field. Farke believes had he kept Byram on the field, those two goals might have been prevented.
“Second half, two set-pieces and the game was done. Critical with myself because I took Byram off at 2-0 and this was a mistake. I thought at this moment, second game in four days, we know his injury CV.
“We wanted an offensive player on like Mateo Joseph. What happened? We concede a third where Byram would normally be at the set-piece. This is where Mateo was involved. Fourth where Byram would be too.”
Can Leeds get promoted? What the pundits have said this week
Ben Parker offered Leeds fans some hope today but perhaps from a biased point of view, with the former Elland Road star claiming that while there is a chance then there is some hope and “miracles happen”.
But the unequivocal Simon Jordan said that Leeds have absolutely no chance of moving above Ipswich on the final day given the level of opponents Ipswich face at Portman Road this weekend, in Huddersfield.
It looks as if it will be the play-offs for Leeds and Micah Richards and Alan Shearer gave their predictions for who will go on to win. Richards picked Leeds to win at Wembley, while Shearer chose Southampton.