QPR 1-1 Leeds
Harry Redknapp is getting sacked in the morning sang Leeds fans.
Jermaine Jenas made sure the taunt ended on a bum note with a fine hit on the stroke of half time.
This was better – but still shy of form needed to earn Rangers automatic promotion despite a late hit by Clint Hill ruled out for offside.
In fact, there was precious little between the two sides, apart from seven league places, and if Rangers are to keep their distance from the once Yorkshire giants – they need to find goals soon.
Jenas took his goal well, picking up a well held-up ball from Kevin Doyle to fire along the ground and past Jack Butland’s right from 20 yards on the stroke of half time.
Armand Traore was unlucky seconds into the second half, and before that Jenas had a tame header saved a taller man might have powered home.
Early on, an almost anonymous Ravel Morrison nutmegged Rudy Austin before finding Traore to flash a low centre across the box the West Ham loanee was a foot short of toe-poking home.
Referee Chris Foy won no friends in west London on 10 minutes.
Richard Dunne’s tackle looked a decent challenge on Ross McCormack. Amazingly, after 10 or more seconds the official pointed to the spot.
Justice was done when the Championship’s leading scorer went left with the penalty – as did Rob Green to save at the foot of the post.
The reprieve lasted all of four minutes.
Another dubious free-kick awarded to Leeds saw McCormack attempt to curl past the wall. He got all the luck to hit Doyle and deflect past Green flinging himself left again – this time in vain.
One of the rare times Doyle got near the ball at the right end, he was hammered from behind running down the right that deservedly earned Stephen Warnock a yellow card.
It took 41 minutes for Rs to fashion the first real chance courtesy of an intricate pattern of passes that Jenas could only nod into the arms of the keeper from nine yards.
The second time he took the ball in stride he scored for 1-1.
Ten seconds into the second period Traore almost caught Leeds cold as he burst through to fire against the keeper’s legs.
Connor Wickham’s late glancing header, well saved by Green was preceded by a shot just past the hour that missed the far post by a coat of varnish.
Hill thought he had won it in added time when he rifled home at the back post only to see the flag raised. It was close but Rangers will miss by far more if they don’t find a win soon.
QPR, 4-4-1-1: Green; Hughes, Dunne, Onuoha, Hill; Hoilett (Keane 62), Henry, Jenas (Carroll 81), Traore; Morrison (Benayoun 85), Doyle; subs not used: Murphy, Suk-Young, Maiga, Sendles-White
