Three things we learned from the Leeds victory over QPR

Leeds United finally both scored a penalty kick and came from behind to win a game at home, both things that hadn’t happened in a long time. Leeds also showed some class to work themselves back into a game that they dominated, yet still found themselves trailing after giving up a soft goal in the first half. It spoke volumes to the commitment that this team has to not only be able to keep plugging away and get a goal to draw level before halftime, but also to pull out a winner in the second half to get past Queens Park Rangers by the score of 2-1.

So here are some observations from the last game, to the theme of Disney’s Frozen.

1. If only for today, Jamie Shackleton can be okay.

Shackleton had already appeared a few times for Leeds this season, playing at right back against both Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup and Swansea City in the Championship, but those were times that the central defender position was at pretty much full strength. The question was about how Shackleton would perform with a taped-together defence, and he did pretty well. He may not be a permanent solution until Luke Ayling gets back, but until that happens, he, and the club, might be okay.

2. Leeds can let it go: Not only was a penalty given to Leeds after almost 60 games, but it was also converted.

Now that the Leeds penalty monkey is off the team’s back, will more finally come? Leeds went over a year without getting a penalty called in their favour, which was almost to the point of absurdity. So now that this infamous streak has been (finally) broken, perhaps we’ll see the club get a few more chances from the spot.

3. For the first time in forever, Leeds came back to win a game at home.

If Chris, the man who runs LUFCDATA is correct, and I have no reason to believe he isn’t, Leeds came from behind to win a game at home for the first time since April 2016. Two and half years in football is basically forever. It shows just how important it was for Leeds to draw level right before the end of halftime. It might also show just how special this team might be.

Teams in the Championship, much like most of English football, usually go on to get points when they score first. For Leeds to get a win after surrendering a goal, and by playing the same exact way as they always do, means that this team will have faith that they can overcome a mistake to get a victory, which is what separates the great from the good teams.

Can this Leeds team be great? This team has all the hallmarks of a “great” team, but Leeds fans have seen this film before, so will it have a different ending this time?