QPR make perfect start by crushing Leeds

QPR 3 Leeds United 0

Second-half goals from Tjaronn Chery and Sebastian Polter sealed a resounding victory for QPR in their first match of the season. 

Rangers went ahead after a fourth-minute error by their former goalkeeper Rob Green on his Leeds debut.

Chery doubled their lead with a penalty on 73 minutes after Jordan Cousins had been fouled in the area by Ronaldo Vieira.

And Polter struck in injury time when he got in front of Lewie Coyle to collect Nedum Onuoha’s diagonal ball and fired into the top corner from a tight angle.

The opening goal came after Leeds failed to deal with a corner and the ball scooped into the air after Vieira had blocked on the line to deny first Polter and then Ben Gladwin.

In the scramble which followed, Green fumbled and although Onuoha was initially credited with the goal after appearing to head home from close range, the ball in fact when in off Leeds defender Sol Bamba.

Garry Monk’s start to his reign as Leeds manager could hardly have been worse.

After seeing his team go behind, he was soon forced to make a change when right-back Gaetano Berardi limped off and was replaced by Coyle.

And as Rangers continued to press, Leeds were rescued by the woodwork twice before half-time.

The lively Chery cut in from the left and Vieira’s attempted clearance ricocheted off the Dutch midfielder and hit the post.

The visitors then had another let-off when Polter found space on the right, evaded two challenges and fired against the same post.

Leeds improved after the break and Matt Grimes went close with a free-kick that whizzed over the bar.

But they were soon on the back foot again and Green saved at his near post to deny Chery after he had linked up with fellow Dutchman Nasser El Khayati.

El Khayati, on as a substitute, then brought an even better save from Green when he turned away from Stuart Dallas and unleashed a powerful shot the former England keeper dived to his left to push away.

Cousins, on for his debut, also made a swift impact after being introduced from the bench.

The midfielder, signed from Charlton this summer, collected Steven Caulker’s pass and was bundled over by Vieira.

Chery, who netted 10 goals last season, calmly slotted the resulting spot-kick beyond Green to put Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side in complete control.

Marcus Antonsson wasted a chance for Leeds when he dragged a shot wide after finding himself through on goal.

The Swedish striker also blazed over at the far post after another rare Leeds attack.

However, Rangers were generally comfortable and their win thoroughly deserved.

Chery brought another save from Green, whose second-half display atoned in part for his costly early mistake.

But Green could do nothing about Polter’s fine goal in dying seconds.