Leeds United 2 - 0 QPR

Leeds United   2 - 0   QPR

Leeds 2-0 QPR

By Phil Dawkes

Leeds moved to second in the table after Max Gradel's brace gave them a deserved win over league leaders QPR in an entertaining game at Elland Road.

The home side had the better of an open encounter and took the lead through Gradel's close-range half-volley.

The winger struck again midway through the second half, capping a solo run with a good near-post finish.

QPR threatened intermittently in the first half but were never allowed to assert themselves on the game.

Rangers' home loss to Watford in their previous match - which halted their attempt to equal a club record of 20 games unbeaten - meant Leeds replaced them as holders of the Championships longest unbeaten run, which is now extended to nine.

Neil Warnock's side remain top of the table but are now just three points clear of today's opponents and a further point ahead of Cardiff, whose home game with Burnley was called off because of the snow, and Swansea, who lost 1-0 at Sheffield United.

The Yorkshire side - roared on by a crowd of 30,000 - were fully deserving of their victory, having out-worked and out-classed QPR, who had chances in the first half but offered little else.

After a low-key opening from both teams, Leeds created the first real goalscoring opportunity when winger Robert Snodgrass crossed for Luciano Becchio, but the Argentine's close-range header was tipped over by Rangers keeper Paddy Kenny.

606: DEBATE Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to be second on Christmas Day! Deeda LUFC

The visitors responded with a long-range shot from captain Adel Taarabt, which flew wide of the post.

They also saw a Clint Hill header blocked by Leeds defender Neill Collins, while Kaspars Gorkss volleyed wide when well placed in the area.

The home side began to exert themselves on the game and were rewarded in the 25th minute when Snodgrass engineered room to cross with his right foot and Becchio headed down for Gradel to fire home from close range with a well-executed left-foot half-volley.

With Leeds in the ascendancy, a one-two between Jonny Howson and Gradel gave the latter a chance to extend Leeds' lead, but the winger's shot on the stretch was fired past the post.

Leeds picked up where they left off after the break and Becchio had the first opportunity of the second half with a shot from 20 yards that Kenny was able to scramble away.

With 20 minutes to go, Gradel doubled the home side's lead when he picked up the ball in his own half and drove on into the QPR box before unleashing a shot that beat Kenny at the near post.

It could have been three goals minutes later but Kenny's superb save denied Howson from a stinging shot.

And the visiting keeper was called into action again soon after to palm away Snodgrass' long-range effort as Leeds threatened to over-run Neil Warnock's men.

The damage had already been done by the home side though and they were able to take the foot off the gas in the closing stages as QPR accepted their fate.

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Saturday, 18 December 2010

Npower Championship

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Leeds	2-0	QPR	FT
(HT 1-0)
Gradel 25 Gradel 70

Leeds United

• 01 Schmeichel
• 02 Connolly yellow card
• 04 Bruce (Bromby 11)
• 05 Collins
• 29 McCartney
• 07 Gradel (Sam 76)
• 08 Kilkenny
• 14 Howson
• 16 Johnson
• 10 Becchio (Paynter 90+3)
• 23 Snodgrass

Substitutes

• 12 Higgs,
• 26 Bromby,
• 11 Sam,
• 17 Faye,
• 09 Paynter,
• 27 Somma,
• 44 McCormack

QPR

• 01 Kenny
• 02 Orr yellow card
• 03 Hill yellow card (Hall 46)
• 13 Gorkss
• 15 Walker
• 16 Connolly
• 04 Derry
• 07 Taarabt
• 12 Mackie
• 20 Hulse (Helguson 75)
• 21 Smith (Ephraim 75)

Substitutes

• 24 Cerny,
• 05 Hall,
• 14 Rowlands,
• 25 Ephraim,
• 08 Clarke,
• 09 Helguson,
• 37 Tofas

Ref: MathiesonAtt: 29,426

LEEDS

QPR

Possession

• Leeds 50%
• QPR 50%

Attempts on target

• Leeds 8
• QPR 4

Attempts off target

• Leeds 5
• QPR 7

Corners

• Leeds 4
• QPR 5

Fouls

• Leeds 13
• QPR 8

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+3:59 The referee blows for the end of the match.
• 90:00+3:21 Unfair challenge on Kyle Walker by Billy Paynter results in a free kick. Kyle Walker takes the direct free kick.
• 90:00+2:34 Substitution Billy Paynter joins the action as a substitute, replacing Luciano Becchio.
• 90:00+0:47 Adel Taarabt takes a shot.
• 88:52 George McCartney crosses the ball, clearance made by Bradley Orr.
• 83:35 Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line, Header by Luciano Becchio from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
• 83:20 Robert Snodgrass takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.
• 82:03 The ball is crossed by Lloyd Sam, Kaspars Gorkss gets a block in. Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Clearance made by Kaspars Gorkss.
• 81:17 Unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio by Kaspars Gorkss results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.
• Correction - 78:38 Shot from just outside the penalty box by Robert Snodgrass misses to the left of the target.
• 78:38 Shot from just outside the area by Robert Snodgrass misses to the right of the target.
• 77:47 Centre by Lloyd Sam.
• 76:32 Jonathan Howson takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
• 74:23 Substitution (Leeds) makes a substitution, with Lloyd Sam coming on for Max Gradel.
• 74:23 Substitution Rob Hulse goes off and Heidar Helguson comes on.
• 74:23 Substitution Hogan Ephraim is brought on as a substitute for Tommy Smith.
• 74:04 Effort on goal by Neil Kilkenny from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
• 72:24 Max Gradel fouled by Bradley Orr, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from left wing, clearance by Bradley Orr.
• 71:42 Tommy Smith delivers the ball, save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 69:56 The assist for the goal came from George McCartney.
• 69:56 GOAL - Max Gradel:Leeds United 2 - 0 QPR Max Gradel fires in a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leeds 2-0 QPR.
• 67:26 The ball is delivered by Tommy Smith, Paul Connolly manages to make a clearance.
• 66:23 Tommy Smith delivers the ball, Kasper Schmeichel makes a save.
• 61:52 Matthew Connolly challenges George McCartney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.
• 59:05 Adel Taarabt takes the outswinging corner, Headed effort from close range by Fitz Hall goes wide left of the goal.
• 58:38 The ball is delivered by Paul Connolly.
• 57:29 The ball is crossed by Adel Taarabt, save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
• Correction - 56:18 Jamie Mackie fouled by Bradley Johnson, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Adel Taarabt from left channel, clearance made by Paul Connolly.
• 56:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Mackie by Bradley Johnson. Adel Taarabt crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Matthew Connolly.
• 55:12 Adel Taarabt has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.
• 53:30 Paul Connolly delivers the ball, clearance made by Kyle Walker.
• 52:22 The ball is sent over by Robert Snodgrass, Max Gradel has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
• 51:54 Robert Snodgrass takes a short corner.
• 51:39 Luciano Becchio has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Save by Patrick Kenny.
• 49:09 Jamie Mackie takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in. Corner taken by Adel Taarabt from the right by-line.
• 45:48 Robert Snodgrass gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyle Walker. Free kick crossed right-footed by Adel Taarabt from left wing, clearance by Neill Collins.
• 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
• 45:01 Substitution Fitz Hall is brought on as a substitute for Clint Hill.
• Half Time
• 45:00+4:27 The referee blows for half time.
• 45:00+4:04 The ball is swung over by Kyle Walker, clearance by Neil Kilkenny.
• 45:00+2:55 Robert Snodgrass takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
• 45:00+2:40 Robert Snodgrass crosses the ball, Kaspars Gorkss manages to make a clearance.
• 45:00+1:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle Walker by Neil Kilkenny. Free kick taken by Jamie Mackie.
• 45:00 Booking Paul Connolly receives a yellow card for dissent.
• 44:44+3:56 Booking Clint Hill receives a yellow card.
• 41:17 Luciano Becchio gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kaspars Gorkss. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.
• 38:50 Unfair challenge on Adel Taarabt by George McCartney results in a free kick. Adel Taarabt produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
• 38:26 The ball is swung over by Robert Snodgrass, clearance by Kaspars Gorkss.
• 37:02 Bradley Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Mackie. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.
• 36:27 The ball is crossed by Jonathan Howson.
• 36:00 Booking Bradley Orr is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 35:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neill Collins by Tommy Smith. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.
• 33:58 Free kick awarded for a foul by Neill Collins on Kyle Walker. Free kick taken by Adel Taarabt.
• 32:32 George McCartney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adel Taarabt. Bradley Orr takes the direct free kick.
• 30:22 Shot by Tommy Smith. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 26:40 Corner taken by Adel Taarabt, Clint Hill takes a shot. Blocked by Neill Collins. Kaspars Gorkss produces a left-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
• 24:49 GOAL - Max Gradel:Leeds United 1 - 0 QPR Max Gradel finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Leeds 1-0 QPR.
• 22:37 Foul by Bradley Orr on Jonathan Howson, free kick awarded. Kasper Schmeichel restarts play with the free kick.
• 21:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Connolly by Rob Hulse. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 20:17 Luciano Becchio gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tommy Smith. Adel Taarabt delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Luciano Becchio manages to make a clearance.
• 17:57 A cross is delivered by Robert Snodgrass, Jamie Mackie makes a clearance.
• 17:14 Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
• 16:15 Adel Taarabt has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.
• 15:50 The ball is crossed by Robert Snodgrass, Bradley Orr makes a clearance.
• 15:00 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adel Taarabt from the left by-line, Luciano Becchio manages to make a clearance.
• 14:18 Neil Kilkenny concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Mackie. Adel Taarabt crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Bradley Johnson manages to make a clearance.
• 13:37 A cross is delivered by Paul Connolly, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Corner taken left-footed by Jonathan Howson, clearance made by Clint Hill.
• 12:33 Max Gradel sends in a cross.
• 11:32 Unfair challenge on Max Gradel by Adel Taarabt results in a free kick. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.
• 10:29 Substitution Leigh Bromby joins the action as a substitute, replacing Alex Bruce.
• 9:56 Adel Taarabt takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Luciano Becchio.
• 8:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle Walker by George McCartney. Direct free kick taken by Bradley Orr.
• 8:35 Robert Snodgrass delivers the ball, save by Patrick Kenny.
• 7:02 Kyle Walker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Neil Kilkenny. Jonathan Howson takes the free kick. Robert Snodgrass delivers the ball.
• 4:19 Paul Connolly concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyle Walker. The ball is sent over by Adel Taarabt, Rob Hulse takes a shot. Kasper Schmeichel makes a save.
• 3:51 The ball is delivered by Robert Snodgrass, Bradley Orr makes a clearance.
• 3:13 Shot on goal by Bradley Orr from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
• 2:37 The ball is delivered by Bradley Orr, clearance by Neill Collins.
• 0:00 The game begins.

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