Credit: Imago / Sky Sports

Dan Godfrey

Thu 20 March 2025 15:10, UK

Leeds United played out a full-blooded and eventful encounter with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, and had to claw back a point.

The 2-2 draw in West London was not ideal for Daniel Farke’s side in the promotion race from the Championship, but it did enough to keep Leeds top of the pile on goal difference.

Late on in the clash, tempers flared between Dan James and Koki Saito when the QPR man made a reckless challenge to prevent a counter, which saw him sent off.

James incident ‘absolutely a red’ says Chris Foy

Former Premier League referee Chris Foy, speaking on Sky Sports‘ Behind the Whistle, quickly condemned the challenge of Saito, which saw a red card brandished by Tim Robinson.

While at first glance it appeared to some that the Japanese midfielder was merely stopping James breaking away in search of a last-gasp winner, the lunging tackle was high and reckless.

Foy said: “When considering the criteria for a red card for serious foul play, this challenge undoubtedly meets the standard.

“As the Leeds United player moves away with the ball, QPR winger Koki Saito makes a lunging challenge, and makes full and forceful contact on the calf of Leeds United’s Dan James.

“At first glance, it may appear to be a cynical attempt to stop a counter-attack, worthy of a caution, but the replays show that it’s actually more serious. With the tackle being high, the leg straight and no attempt to play the ball, it endangers the safety of the opponent.

“The correct decision here is absolutely a straight red card.”

Leeds United have to rediscover ruthless streak

Leeds United were undoubtedly Premier League quality throughout most of their impressive 17-match unbeaten run in the Championship.

While they are again unbeaten in their two games since losing to Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 9 March, the two-goal deficit against QPR at Loftus Road – a notorious ground for their poor results in recent years – did little to convince Leeds fans that promotion would be anything near straightforward.

Farke is fully aware that his team cannot make the same mistakes as last year, slowing down at the utterly wrong time with four losses in their final six games. That will continue to haunt the manager until he succeeds this time around.

Leeds are still uncertain of their future long-term plans until they know which division they will be competing in next season.

But as long as the likes of James are fit and firing, they have every capability of rekindling that ruthless streak which no Championship rival can match.