Queens Park Rangers vs Leeds United. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road StadiumAttendance15,506.
Saturday 9 December 2017 20:44, UK
Kemar Roofe scored a hat-trick as Leeds beat QPR in the Sky Bet Championship clash at Loftus Road.
Roofe opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when he sneaked between defenders Jack Robinson and Jake Bidwell to head home Ezgjan Alioski's cross.
And the 24-year-old struck again five minutes later, this time by firing home from close range after being found by Pawel Cibicki's cross from the left.
Leeds were cruising before a terrible mistake by keeper Felix Wiedwald led to a freak goal for Pawel Wszolek.
After Luke Freeman's 90th-minute corner was cleared as far as the Pole, Wszolek lifted the ball back into the box, where Wiedwald inexplicably misjudged the bounce and was then unable to prevent the ball crossing the line after it sailed over his head.
But Roofe completed his hat-trick in the final seconds, cutting in from the left-hand edge of the penalty area and shooting past keeper Alex Smithies.
It took Roofe's goal tally for the season to nine and sealed Leeds' first win in London since March 2015.
Struggling Rangers, whose defensive injury problems led to captain Nedum Onuoha being selected just days after returning to training following nearly three months out with a torn hamstring, have now lost five of their last six matches.
Roofe was a thorn in their side from the start - Smithies had to claw away a dangerous left-wing cross from the midfielder in the opening stages.
Early in the second half, Josh Scowen sent an effort well wide and Bidwell headed wide of the near post from Freeman's free-kick.
Cibicki, on as a substitute for the injured Ekuban, did get a shot on target but it was easily gathered by Smithies.
However, Smithies was left helpless when Alioski's terrific cross set up Roofe for the opener.
After Massimo Luongo went close to equalising with a header from Bidwell's cross, Roofe's second goal appeared to crush Rangers' hopes of a comeback.
They were given hope by Wiedwald's error, but the outstanding Roofe had the final word.
Ian Holloway: "We'll look at where we are and see if we can maybe freshen it up with people who haven't had to go through this, because it looks like they're getting down a little bit. We played very well in the first half and should have been ahead but unfortunately the goal we need to give the boys the confidence they deserve is eluding us.
"The lads have got to fight and fight hard. In life you have to keep on fighting and if you keep doing the right things you should get the right result in the end. Let's just get on with the next game and see how we go. We live to fight another day."
Thomas Christiansen: "In the first half we were not good but in the second we were better and it was important to score the first goal. The whole defensive line was much better. We've had five games now where we have defended better and believe we're stronger.
"They came under pressure and we defended well, because it was difficult with QPR's direct play with Smith up front. It was a tough test for the defence. We have had five very good performances and I'm very pleased with the team, the performance and of course the result."
