Leeds United can hit back at 'bottle-job' critics after painful embarrassment vs QPR

Leeds United host Queens Park Rangers in a 3pm kick-off at Elland Road this afternoon, with the chance to climb the Championship table. Daniel Farke hosts a Marti Cifuentes side on the back of a 10-match winless streak that includes five draws and five losses.

Here are five things to look out for around this afternoon's contest.

Any changes after Wednesday’s loss?

One defeat in nine matches is hardly cause to rip up everything Leeds United have done this season, but are there grounds for changes around the edges this afternoon? It’s perhaps more pertinent to look at the alternatives Daniel Farke has available to him.

Mateo Joseph feels like the only player currently on the bench with anything like the same credit in the bank as the starter in his position. Joel Piroe was excellent seven days ago, but the last two away games have been hard watches.

The Dutch striker now has one goal in five games. Joseph never really did a whole lot wrong before he was taken out of the team at the Stadium of Light.

Revenge?

It’s not outlandish to say the last time Leeds met Queens Park Rangers they put in the worst performance of Farke’s tenure. That 4-0 drubbing at Loftus Road was a hammer blow to everyone around the world with any kind of vested interest in United’s automatic promotion hopes.

It was a night which started badly and only got worse as the Whites effectively bottled their top-two chance. It was seen as the start of something special for QPR, in stark contrast, under Marti Cifuentes.

QPR finished last season with just four losses in 19 league games and after a summer window under the Spaniard, the locals hoped they might have a chance of a play-off run this season. They could not have been let down more since August.

The Hoops are second from bottom, winless at home and on one victory in 14 games overall. They are out of form, missing several of their best players, including Ilias Chair, and ripe for an absolute pummelling from those who were so badly embarrassed in April.

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A response to Wednesday?

As well as a response to April’s hiding, Leeds need a response to Wednesday’s meek loss at Millwall. Farke defended his players, as he has to, after the game, but he and they know they need to see something much better today.

If away losses at in-form opponents are mildly irritating, a failure to convincingly beat one of the worst teams in the league at home is unforgivable.

Five games to go on the suspension tightrope

Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle may have got theirs out of the way, but Leeds have another two players trying to inch across the suspension tightrope towards December 7. Joe Rodon and Wilfried Gnonto are on four yellows apiece and will be banned for one match if they pick up another caution today.

Gnonto’s absence would likely be covered by Manor Solomon, while Rodon would need rusty options like Josuha Guilavogui or Max Wober to step into central defence. It's four more games until the cut-off after today.

Ask a question of the Blades?

Spending the international break in the top two with a third of the season behind them may be out of United’s hands, but they can at least ask the question. Sunderland cannot be caught this weekend, but Sheffield United can be leapfrogged today with a victory.

They play in the Sheffield derby tomorrow. The least the Whites can do is make them win to go back ahead of them.