SM
Spain vs. Switzerland: 2 hrs 52 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
LL
Championship | Gameweek 21
Dec 8, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
QL

2-1

Roofe (45', 53' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Wells (26')

McClaren backs Leeds to stay the course but says decision helped United win

:Headline: McClaren backs Leeds to stay the course but says decision helped United win: ID:343713: from db_amp
QPR were beaten at Elland Road.

QPR manager Steve McClaren claimed referee Peter Bankes cost his side a result after awarding Leeds a penalty which Kemar Roofe converted to give United a 2-1 comeback win at Elland Road.

Rangers withstood a fast start by Leeds and took the lead when Nahki Wells coolly finished past Bailey Peacock-Farrell on a one-on-one.

But Roofe equalised on the stroke of half-time and then had the opportunity to complete the turnaround after Bankes adjudged Toni Leistner had handled a ball over the top.

The Leeds striker duly sent Joe Lumley the wrong way from the spot to give his side a fourth straight Sky Bet Championship victory and leave McClaren unhappy with the official.

"It was a poor decision for the penalty, a very, very poor decision," he said. "It's cost us a result.

"Toni was adamant it didn't touch his hand and the referee's position – wow. He's got fantastic eyes. He can see through people I think to see a handball.

"We go away very disappointed with the result but proud of the players in terms of their performance."

A late winner for Norwich against Bolton meant Leeds remained in second spot but with a five-point cushion over third place.

However head coach Marcelo Bielsa insisted the Championship is still wide open.

"We go game by game and try to get the best we can from each game," said Bielsa.

"Sometimes we get more than we deserve, sometimes we get less. This is football and that's why it's attractive.

"This year there is no team who have shown that they can dominate the rest of the teams."

Bankes' decision to award Leeds a penalty ended a 58-game wait for a spot-kick and Bielsa was impressed by the lengthy debate over who would step up to take it.

"I saw the players exchanging words and I guess they were talking about who was going to take the responsibility of taking the penalty," he said.

"If we take into account that it's been a long time since we had a penalty, it's a good thing to see that more than one player wanted the responsibility."

While Bielsa continues to play down Leeds' promotion chances, opposite number McClaren is convinced the Yorkshire club have the staying power.

"There is big pressure and expectation and they've got a manager with the experience to handle that," he said. "That's what they're doing.

"I think they won ugly today and that's what you need to do when you're going for promotion.

"You're starting to see six, seven, eight teams coming through – Aston Villa being one of them and I expect Stoke to as well.

"There's a lot of big clubs and only three can go up. There will be a lot of disappointed clubs with big expectations that won't make it.

"But Leeds are going to be up there, without a shadow of a doubt."

amp_article__343713 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-12-09 16:40:40:
html db last update - 2018-12-09 16:40:40 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Steve McClaren

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .