A WIN double over champions QPR was scant consolation for Leeds United as they missed out on the npower Championship play-offs.
The Whites’ 2-1 win at Loftus Road was largely overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Rangers player Alejandro Faurlin.
The Football Association announced ahead of kick off that QPR would not be docked points after being found guilty of two of the seven charges facing them surrounding the alleged third-party ownership of the Argentine midfielder.
The club were instead fined £875,000.
United went into the game harbouring slim hopes of a play-off place. That looked even more unlikely after 27 seconds when Heidar Helguson tapped Rangers ahead.
However, Max Gradel hauled them level when he lobbed Radek Cerny and Ross McCormack hit a deflected winner in the second half.
However, Nottingham Forest’s win at Crystal Palace means another season outside the top flight for manager Simon Grayson’s men.
“Obviously we are disappointed not to make the play-offs,” said Grayson. “We have beaten the champions twice this season which is a testament to my players, but congratulations to QPR.”
Former Scarborough boss Neil Warnock was in tears after restoring QPR to the top flight.
Toasting the seventh promotion of his career, he said: “Over the last seven weeks or eight weeks I have never had such a tough task, so to steer us through is the best job I’ve done.”
The FA have been heavily criticised for not hearing the case until the final week of the season and then delaying the verdict, leaving the club sweating on the outcome long after they had secured promotion.
Yet somehow, their timing was impeccable as an hour before kick-off the news from Wembley filtered through and suddenly Loftus Road was rocking.
Midfielder Shaun Derry, a former Leeds player, said: “When we heard it was more relief than anything else, it gave us such a lift.
“We were worried but we were given assurances, although when it’s nagging in the back of your mind it’s awful.”
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