Why Steve McClaren believes Leeds United represent QPR's toughest test of the season

Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren believes his sides trip to Elland Road is "one of their toughest tests of the season."
Queens Park Rangers head coach Steve McClaren.Queens Park Rangers head coach Steve McClaren.
Queens Park Rangers head coach Steve McClaren.

The Rs sit 11th in the Championship table after a mixed start to the campaign and head to West Yorkshire having fallen to a 3-2 home defeat to Hull City last weekend.

McClaren's men have picked up 12 points on their travels so far this season but the 57-year-old says that tomorrow's clash will be one of the biggest his team have come up against this campaign.

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Speaking to QPR's official website, he said: "I think for most teams in the Championship going to Elland Road will represent one of their toughest tests of the season.

“They are filling the stadium now and made a massive signing in Bielsa during the summer which raised expectations beyond the roof.

“We will need a lot of belief and a lot of courage – that’s what all teams need when you go to a place like Elland Road if you are to get a result there.”

McClaren, who was left annoyed by defeat to the Tigers at Loftus Road, believes his side need to get back to basics on Saturday afternoon: "We need to get back to that resilience and organisation that we showed against the likes of Aston Villa to get clean sheets.

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“We will need to defend well on Saturday but we are creating chances now. In games before we were getting 1-0s, recently it’s been 3-2s and 2-3s so we need to get the balance right.

“But the most important thing for us is we want a reaction, we want a performance. We were disappointed against Hull and, as we always say, give a reaction – and there is no better place to do that than at Elland Road.”