Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, has expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance in the first half of their 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers. Farke admitted that he made a mistake by not starting Ilia Gruev, who has been important for Leeds in tough away fixtures.
Instead, Farke opted for Joe Rothwell, who struggled to make an impact in the game. QPR’s physicality caused problems for Leeds from the start, and they found themselves 2-0 down within 30 minutes. The hosts took the lead through a stunning strike from Koki Saito, followed by an unmarked Steve Cook header.
Farke took responsibility for his decision, saying that he was “a bit unhappy” with himself. He explained that he had considered starting Gruev for his defensive skills, but ultimately decided to go with a more creative approach. “Today, I was a bit unhappy with myself,” Farke said. “I thought until the early hours whether to play Gruev for our defensive side, to show resilience.”
Farke’s decision to start Rothwell was likely influenced by the midfielder’s excellent performance in Leeds’ midweek win over Millwall. However, Rothwell was unable to replicate that form against QPR, and Leeds struggled to cope with the hosts’ physicality.
Despite the disappointing start, Leeds showed resilience and fought back to earn a point. Morgan Fox’s own goal halved the deficit, before Jayden Bogle levelled the scores in the 51st minute. Farke praised his team’s reaction, saying that they were “totally on it” in the second half.
The draw was a good result for Leeds, given the circumstances. QPR had won five of their last six home games against Leeds, and the Yorkshire giants have a poor record in early kick-offs and in London. Farke acknowledged that a draw was a good result, saying that it was a “good point on the road.”
Farke also praised QPR, saying that they were a “dangerous side” at home with their counter-attacks. The Leeds manager was impressed with the way his team responded to going 2-0 down, and believes that the point could be an important one in the context of the season.
As for Gruev, Farke believes that the midfielder would have made a difference in the game. “If you’re too lazy to move out then they do the give and go and cross,” Farke said. “It’s a bit difficult. I’m a bit self-critical of myself.”
Overall, the draw was a fair result for both teams, and Leeds will be relieved to have earned a point despite their poor start to the game. Farke’s team will now look to build on this result and push on in the Championship.
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