Leeds United's struggles in the capital continued on Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of QPR. 

The Whites last won in London in December 2017 but may feel hard done by to have seen that run continue on the weekend–as Nahki Wells seemed to handle the ball in the build-up to the decisive goal and Marcelo Bielsa's side had an early penalty shout waved away.

After a wild, end-to-end opening 20 minutes, Wells was handed an almost unmissable opportunity as Ebere Eze's free-kick ricocheted into his path, via both arms, and with the goal gaping, QPR striker made no mistake.

The hosts continued to look threatening at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium but Leeds were in the ascendancy after the break and had a golden chance just after the hour mark but Patrick Bamford missed from the penalty spot.

The Whites' day got even worse in the closing stages of the game as Kalvin Phillips was shown a straight red for an ugly tackle on Geoff Cameron.

Leeds have won just once since the 10th of December–a run that has seen their gap over third-place reduced to just four points.

The Whites' next chance to right that record will come against Millwall at Elland Road next Tuesday but before the focus shifts to that game here are three things we learned from Saturday...

Bielsa needs more options added to his squad before the end of the month.

Plenty of Leeds fans were concerned by the strength of their bench ahead of the game and their worries proved justified by the end of the afternoon.

Ezjgan Alioski and Jamie Shackleton were the only players on the bench with any significant first-team experience on Saturday, with players from the U23s making up the rest of it.

With the Whites chasing the game, Bielsa had no real options that he could change the game with.

Nor did he have a back-up striker at all, which hamstrung them on another off day for Bamford.

Injuries have hampered them, yes, but the Yorkshire club need to add some more quality, particularly in the attacking areas, before the end of the month to help them change games.

Think you know Leeds? Take our quiz to test yourself!

Leeds look lost from corners.

Leeds had 11 corners against QPR on Saturday but didn't seem to have a real plan and created very little in terms of goalscoring opportunities, as has been the case on multiple occasions this season.

Despite their corners clearly not working, Leeds took just one short and pulled one back to the edge of the box–with the other nine put into the box with little effect.

They need a better plan and it seems mistifying to me that a manager of Bielsa's quality and experience would not have created one already.

Phillips is not yet the finished article.

The talismanic midfielder has been excellent since Bielsa took charge last summer but had far from his best day at the office against QPR.

He struggled to keep a lid on the hosts' electric attacking midfield players and was unable to provide any real control in the middle of the park–something that Leeds were screaming out for.

His red card was deserved. The lunge late on was ugly–a show of frustration and in some ways immaturity. It was one of those that you knew was coming as soon as he lost the ball.

Rightly, there has been a lot of reported Premier League interest in Phillips and suggestions that he should be considered by England manager Gareth Southgate.

I do think he deserves a chance for the Three Lions as the midfielder is a wonderful player but if Saturday proved anything it is that at 24, he is not the finished article yet.