Ilia Gruev drops awful performance, Illan Meslier also dismal – Leeds United player ratings v QPR
Leeds United endured a nightmare evening as they were thrashed 4-0 by QPR to confirm automatic promotion for Leicester City.
The Whites got off to a nightmare start in the eighth minute when Ilias Chair was given loads of space to cut in and curl it inside the far post via a deflection off Joe Rodon, and things went from bad to worse in the 22nd minute as Lucas Andersen wandered in off the right after a throw-in and fired into the far corner.
Daniel Farke’s side improved after the break, but were still a long way short as nearly every player underperformed, and when Lyndon Dykes nodded a 73rd-minute corner home a dreadful result was confirmed, and there was still time for a barely-marked Sam Field to head home a fourth.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the Leeds United players out of 10 for their performances at Loftus Road.
Illan Meslier – 3
Another poor outing. Beaten by the deflection for the opener but won’t have addressed any doubts around him from the Middlesbrough defeat as he seemed to dive late without moving his feet. Couldn’t do a lot about the second strike but flapped at a corner after an hour as he did too often on Monday and allowed the third to trickle under him, and palmed the fourth into the roof of his own net
Sam Byram (off for Joseph ’63) – 4
Bad night. Okay combining with the likes of Gnonto and Gray going forward but couldn’t cope with Chair defensively. Backed off and backed off to allow the QPR acres of space as he came forward on the way to his goal then got himself booked with a reckless lunging challenge on the same player after just a quarter of an hour. Beaten all ends up by Chair again and risked a second yellow before he was mercifully withdrawn by Farke.
Joe Rodon – 5
Unlucky to see the opener glance off him and in but sloppy in possession as he gave the ball away multiple times in the first half as part of an off-colour performance.
Ethan Ampadu – 6
Looked more composed than Rodon on the ball but unable to have his usual impact on proceedings and struggled in the air against Lyndon Dykes and wasn’t close enough to Field for the late fourth.
Junior Firpo – 7 – Man of the Match
The pick of a bad bunch. Some good work going forward and put in some hefty challenges early. Visibly frustrated to see one of his perfect crosses which was begging to be turned in go straight out the other side of the area late in the first half, and delivered another just after the hour mark that Begovic made an important save from as he looked by far the most likely route back into the game for Leeds United.
Archie Gray – 6
Anonymous start as he was bypassed for about half an hour before gaining a foothold in the game. Grew into it afterwards in an okay performance but nowhere near what was needed to spark a big comeback.
Ilia Gruev (off for Kamara ’88) – 1
Awful performance. Started badly as he was blown past with too much ease by Chris Willock before giving away a free kick which ultimately led to the opener. At fault for both early QPR goals as he did nothing to prevent Chair from cutting in on his right to score. It was also the Bulgarian who should have closed down Andersen’s second but reacted too slowly inside his own box. Could easily be dropped after this.
Crysencio Summerville (off for Anthony ’78) – 5
Very quiet by his standards but went close with a volley midway through the first half. Nowhere near the attacking threat he usually carries.
Willy Gnonto (off for Shackleton ’88) – 6
Not his greatest game but was at least showing plenty of intent, even if it wasn’t always paying off, while teammates appeared shell-shocked by their bad start. Admittedly left Byram badly exposed down the right in a defensive sense but was the most lively going forward and his perfect cross was almost volleyed home by Summerville after half an hour. Booked before the break.
Georginio Rutter (off for Gelhardt ’78) – 5
Struggled badly to get into the action for Leeds United throughout the first half. Became more prominent after the break but squandered a huge chance as he dragged a poor finish badly wide from close range. His exit was an admission the game was lost.
Joel Piroe – 5
Some early signs of life then went downhill from there. Tested Begovic in the opening exchanges with a decent low effort and fired a long-range speculative effort wide but faded from prominence and was nowhere to be seen when Firpo swung in a beautiful cross just before the half which Patrick Bamford may have converted. Was hardly alone in failing to make inroads in attack but dropped deeper and deeper late on and yet was sloppy in possession. Booted a dreadful free kick high and wide late on.
Substitutions
Mateo Joseph (on for Byram ’63) – 5
Didn’t impact in attacking areas and was nudged off the ball by Dykes to score the third at a corner.
Joe Gelhardt (on for Rutter ’78) – 5
Had a couple of efforts but never threatened.
Jaidon Anthony (on for Summerville ’78) – 5
His introduction barely registered with the damage already done.
Glen Kamara (on for Gruev ’88) – N/A
Jamie Shackleton (on for Gnonto ’88) – N/A
In other Leeds United news, a finance expert has reacted to a “scary” discovery from the club.
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