Half-time report: QPR 0 Leeds United 0

QPR goalkeeper Alex Smithies punches away an early Kemar Roofe cross.

Leeds United saw their chances limited as a scrappy first half against Queens Park Rangers finished goalless.

United struggled to create more than a glancing header from Caleb Ekuban and failed to establish any control against a QPR side looking for a first win in six games.

Rangers fashioned the odd opportunity, the best of which was driven into the crowd by Luke Freeman, but a scrappy half rarely looked like yielding a goal.

Leeds, who were without the injured Pablo Hernandez, caused early problems for Alex Smithies, a goalkeeper with a history of errors against United, and Smithies was lucky to escape when Ekuban slid into block an early clearance.

Samuel Saiz battles for possession during the first half at Loftus Road.

A timely interception by Luke Ayling stopped former Leeds striker Matt Smith from tucking away Pawel Wszolek’s cut-back and Conor Washington drove a shot wide after taking down a chipped pass with his chest but Ekuban narrowly failed to guide an 18th-minute cross from Ayling underneath Smithies’ crossbar.

Freeman went closer on 28 minutes when Rangers sliced through United’s midfield and set him up with a cross from Wszolek which Freeman sent up over Felix Wiedwald’s bar.

Leeds then suffered a blow late in the half when Ekuban, who missed the early part of the season with a broken foot, limped from the field, allowing Pawel Cibicki to make his league debut.

Kemar Roofe almost nicked an opener at the very end of the half as the ball burst through QPR’s defence but Jake Bidwell recovered with a tackle as Roofe shaped to shoot. Referee Chris Kavanagh waved away appeals for a pull on Roofe's shirt.

United midfielder Pablo Hernandez, who was ruled out of today's game with a hamstring strain.

Queens Park Rangers: Smithies, Wszolek, Onuoha, Robinson, Bidwell, Freeman, Luongo, Scowen, Chair, Smith, Washington. Subs: Lumley, Hall, Cousins, Manning, Osayi-Samuel, Wheeler, Sylla.

Leeds United: Wiedwald, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi, Phillips, Vieira, Alioski, Saiz, Roofe, Ekuban (Cibicki 38). Subs: Lonergan, Shaughnessy, Pennington, Borthwick-Jackson, Anita, O'Kane.