If Daniel Farke had the chance to do it again, he might have set Leeds United up differently during Saturday’s exciting 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers.
As Marti Cifuentes’ side raced to a two-goal lead in the first 30 minutes through a stunning Koki Saito goal and an unmarked Steve Cook header, Leeds supporters could have feared a repeat of the 4-0 loss at Loftus Road in April 2024.
However, Leeds showed resilience after halftime, with Morgan Fox’s own goal reducing the deficit and Jayden Bogle’s equalizer in the 51st minute leveling the score. This turnaround reflected the grit Daniel Farke has instilled in his team. Leeds had previously come from behind to win against Sunderland and Sheffield United, but this time, despite a strong second-half display, they fell just short.
Brenden Aaronson again struggled, but Farke believes the context of the 2-2 result makes the point earned a positive one. In his post-match comments, Farke reflected on a decision he regretted. He had considered introducing Ilia Gruev into midfield, especially for his defensive qualities in tough away games. Ultimately, he opted for Joe Rothwell, who had impressed in Leeds’ midweek win over Millwall but couldn’t replicate that form at QPR, where the home side’s physicality caused significant problems.
Though it’s unclear if Gruev would have made a difference, Farke suspects Leeds might have had a better chance with him on the pitch. “I was a bit unhappy with myself,” Farke admitted. “I debated playing Gruev for defensive stability, but I got too greedy, wanting to dominate the game. Once you’re 2-0 down, you have to take risks, and it was too late for Gruev to make an impact.”
Farke acknowledged his own self-criticism, noting that defensive lapses allowed QPR to exploit spaces. Despite that, he was proud of his team’s resilience. “We were poor in the first 35 minutes, giving away easy chances and reacting too late. But the reaction in the second half was good. We were fully focused, and after going 2-0 down, to come back and earn a point is a positive outcome,” he said.
With QPR’s solid home record against Leeds and the challenges of playing in early kick-offs in London, Farke recognized the significance of the draw. “QPR deserved their lead, but we showed resilience and fought back. They’re always a dangerous team at home, so we’ll take this as a good point on the road,” he concluded.
‘Unhappy’ Daniel Farke admits he made major mistake with Leeds United’s £4m man at QPR
