Ben Parker has shared his prediction for Leeds United’s trip to Queens Park Rangers tomorrow night.
The Whites will be looking to build on Monday night’s 4-3 victory at Middlesbrough by making it back-to-back wins for the first time since before the international break.
With Leicester City’s emphatic 5-0 win over Southampton all but confirming their promotion, it is now a two-horse race for that second spot between Leeds and Ipswich Town.
Leeds are currently a point clear of Ipswich in second but have played a game more. With Daniel Farke’s side playing first this weekend, a win would pile the pressure on Ipswich ahead of trips to Hull and Coventry City.
Leeds will have had 48 hours less preparation time than QPR for the match, something BBC pundit Jon Newsome believes is ‘disgusting’, but hopefully it can actually turn into an advantage.
Parker predicts the result of QPR vs Leeds on Friday
Having made a return to winning ways by scoring four goals, Leeds should be full of confidence once again going into this one.
However, they could come up against a QPR side who setup similarly to how Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers both found success against Leeds recently.
Leeds have struggled against deep defences all season and with QPR extremely close to securing survival, it would not be a surprise if they were happy to settle for a point.
Giving his prediction on the latest episode of the LS11 Podcast, Parker can see QPR setting up that way, but does think Leeds will have enough to come away with three points.
He said: “It always feels like Loftus Road is a ground that’s tight, compact and that [QPR not being safe] probably adds to how they will setup, being defensive. Four points for them, but there are loads of teams between them and the bottom three so you would think they are kind of safe.
“They will be looking at this game thinking if they can get a point, that pretty much should see them in the Championship for next season, so you can see them playing for a point which could make it difficult for Leeds.
“But following on from Monday, Summerville back to his best, Rutter looked somewhere near his best, Gnonto flying, Bamford getting his goal. The front four all played well the other night having kind of been off it against Sunderland and Blackburn. That’s a massive difference.
“It’s going to be tight, I can’t see it being a basketball game like against Boro so you just need a moment from one of them four, and we’ll get that. Staying patient, and then defensively as a team, staying strong because QPR will get a moment or two. Clean sheet and we’ll win the game. Prediction: QPR 0-2 Leeds.“
Leeds will need to overcome shoddy QPR away record
This is another huge match in Leeds’ push for the top two as anything other than a win would very much hand Ipswich the initiative ahead of their next two games.
And in order to take the three points, Leeds will seriously need to improve on their recent record at Loftus Road, which does not make for good reading.
Leeds have won just one of their last seven trips to QPR, a run which includes three losses in a row. Their last win came back in December 2017, when a Kemar Roofe hattrick ensured a 3-1 win.