Luke Ayling on need for Patrick Bamford's team-mates to step up to solve Leeds United's goalscoring woes

United's no 9 endured a miserable afternoon in Saturday's clash at Loftus Road with the forward seeing his 57th-minute spot kick saved by Liam Kelly.

Bamford also put a one-on-one opportunity over the bar and a close-range header wide as Leeds proved unable to respond to Nahki Wells' controversial strike in the 20th minute which came after the striker had twice handballed in controlling the ball with each arm.

Ayling admitted Wells' goal and the defeat at Loftus Road were both bitter pills to swallow as part of a contest in which United's Kalvin Phillips was shown a straight red-card for a late and reckless tackle on Geoff Cameron in the 88th minute.

As has often been the case, Leeds again dominated in terms of possession and attempts at goal but ultimately fell to a third league loss from their last six games.

United's cushion in the automatic promotion places is now down to four points with Fulham leading the chase though sixth-placed Nottingham Forest would slash the gap to just two points if beating Sunday's visitors Luton Town and winning Wednesday night's game in hand at home to Reading.

Squandering chances is continually costing the Whites dear but right back Ayling said it was up to United's team as a whole and not just Bamford to solve his side's woes in front of goal.

"It is frustrating but it comes from the whole team," said Ayling.

"You can't just put it on one man to score all the goals, it's got to come from a lot of players that have got to chip in with goals.

"I don't think the players have scored enough around Pat because Pat has chipped in with a lot of goals lately and the boys need to start chipping in as well."

QPR netted the only goal of the game with one of only two shots on target from nine attempts as opposed United's 17 with only three on testing keeper Kelly.

Pablo Hernandez went particularly close when seeing a second-half free kick strike the outside of the post.

But Wells twice handballed before netting in the 20th minute and Ayling admitted referee Peter Bankes' decision to let the goal stand was difficult to digest.

"It's happened quickly and I think everybody knows how hard it is for the referee," said Ayling.

"But it's hard to take because I feel like the ball has come off both of his hands in the end.

"It didn't look like it was just one hand that it hit, the first one has hit him quite quickly but then the second hand he has knocked it into his path.

"Obviously it's frustrating when things like that happen to us and a few things have not gone our way lately, a few things have not gone our way through the whole season.

"It's hard to take. I feel like the boys have played well and we have made a lot of chances and things haven't gone our way.

"I think they have had one shot on target and one other shot on target that has quite clearly come off his hand and he has scored a goal from it. That's hard to take."

Asked if the main discussion point in the dressing room were the incidents on the pitch and goals that were or were not scored, Ayling reasoned: "I don't think anything like that was mentioned.

"The boys were very upset, there were a few words that have been said but that's for the dressing room.

"I won't be coming out and saying what's gone on in the dressing room.

"We have tried our best again and we have made plenty of chances but the goals haven't gone in."