Morning all! And what a fine day it is too. The first of a full 12-game schedule in the Championship today comes in West London as QPR take on Leeds. Team news on the way...

QPR XI: Green; Hughes, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill; Traore, Jenas, Henry, Hoilett, Morrison, Doyle

QPR SUBS: Murphy, Keane, Yun, Carroll, Benayoun, Sendles-White, Maiga

LEEDS XI: Butland; Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Murphy, Austin, Stewart, Kebe; Wickham, McCormack

LEEDS SUBS: Smith, Hunt, Mowatt, Byram, Wootton, Brown, Cairns

Righty ho, let's see what the two managers have gone for then. The biggest news from the lineups is a Leeds debut for midweek loan signing Connor Wickham. The England Under-21 striker from Sunderland goes straight into Brian McDermott's XI alongside Ross McCormack in what looks to be a very potent attack. McDermott has gone for an attacking 4-4-2 with rapid wingers Jimmy Kebe and Cameron Stewart either side of Rodolph Austin and Luke Murphy in the middle.

Redknapp, meanwhile, makes just one change to his side that were beaten in the last second by Charlton Athletic last week. Armand Traore is back in the starting XI, replacing Tom Carroll who drops to the bench.

REFEREE WATCH! The man with the whistle today is Premier League regular Chris Foy. Here he is sending off Eden Hazard for the infamous ballboy incident at Swansea:

© Getty Images

Look, it's a lovely day in the capital! Sorry if it's not the same wherever you are.

LAST TIME OUT! The reverse fixture between these two sides was back on the final day of August last year. QPR edged out hosts Leeds by a single Clint Hill goal 15 minutes from time. Click here for the match report to refresh your memory.

As you can see from that match report, QPR were top of the pile back in August but are now down in fourth because of three straight defeats. Redknapp's men do have a game in-hand on everyone else in the top six though and victory this lunchtime will see them close to within four points of Burnley in second. Here's the two sides' recent form (newest to oldest):

QPR: LLLDWW
LEEDS: DLWWDL

One absentee that is a big loss for QPR today is Joey Barton, who is serving the second of a two-game suspension for racking up 10 yellow cards this season.

PREDICTION TIME! I'm really hoping that the two teams' will properly have a go today but both have been ever so cagey of late and I can't see too many goals. I think that QPR might just nick it today by a single goal. 1-0 or 2-1 to the hosts.

One aspect of today's game that I'm really looking forward to is the Leeds strike partnership of Wickham and the league's top scorer Ross McCormack. Wickham was brilliant on loan with Sheffield Wednesday in this league earlier in the season, scoring eight goals in 11 games, and if he and McCormack can gel then they might become the best frontline in the division. Wickham is with Leeds until the end of the season, remember.

The two teams are out and we're just about ready for kickoff!

'This is Loftus Road and we are #QPR'! #QPRvLEE pic.twitter.com/nDiUZKCPzb — QPR FC (@OfficialQPR) March 1, 2014

KICKOFF! The hosts get us underway underway in the bright sunshine. They're in their blue and white hoops while Leeds don their rather horrible dull gold away kit.

Excellent start by Leeds as Wickham pressures Onuoha in the area and QPR survive. The hosts are playing with three centre-backs today in a new formation. Further forward, West Ham United loanee Ravel Morrison is making his home debut.

First real action in the box as Stewart steals the ball on the left wing before crossing low for Wickham but it's well defended by Dunne.

Wickham's first touch in a Leeds shirt is a bad one as his cross from the right wing flies out of play. He should be in the box waiting for crosses, not delivering them!

CHANCE! First decent opening comes for QPR as Morrison's pass falls kindly into the path of Traore on the left. He crosses low but it's too far in front of Morrison and goes out of play on the far side.

Leeds have perhaps the best away fans in the league and both them and the home supporters are making plenty of noise early on. Good atmosphere.

PENALTY TO LEEDS! Dunne brings down McCormack in the area.

That was not the sort of penalty that the league's top scorer would take! The spot kick was awarded by Foy, who overruled his linesman who signalled for a corner. McCormack sidefooted it to Green's left but the former England keeper read it and made an easy save. A weak penalty by the Scot.

Well, he missed a penalty but has scored a much more difficult set piece! The visitors win a free kick outside the box and McCormack is confident enough to take it. His effort is curling straight towards Green until it takes a deflection off Armand Traore that diverts its course right into the corner!

That's 23 league goals this season now for McCormack.

Dunne plays an aimless ball to no-one up front that causes further groans from the home fans. They've not tested Butland at all in the visitors' goal yet, or even looked close to doing so.

Almost another chance for McCormack as he makes a run but can't be found by Kebe, who overhits the through-ball. I watched Leeds against Middlesbrough last week and they are playing so much better this week.

Like he was last week, prospective Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is in the stands for today's game. Even though his takeover is yet to be ratified by the Football League, he is reportedly providing funds to sign the likes of Wickham and Butland on loan.

Despite their many experienced players, QPR can barely string a pass together at the moment as Leeds continue to pressure them Barcelona style in their half. Great stuff from the visitors.

Leeds have another free kick. It's a little further out and this time Stewart has a go, striking it Didier Drogba style with his instep. It moves in the air and Green fumbles before collecting at the second attempt.

Nice shot from @OfficialQPR on Twitter of Morrison trying to create something for the home side:

PHOTO: @morrisonravel holds off @LUFC's Rodolph Austin #QPRvLEE pic.twitter.com/HmvZMYH6MC — QPR FC (@OfficialQPR) March 1, 2014

Wickham's first shot in a Leeds shirt comes just after the half-hour mark as he shifts the ball onto his left foot before dragging it a yard or so wide of the post.

BOOKING! Leeds left-back Warnock is the first in Foy's book for sliding in late on Doyle to the right of Leeds's area. Doyle looks to be injured as well.

With their top scorer Charlie Austin already out injured, it looks like Doyle will also be on the injury list as he limps off the pitch. Will he try to soldier on?

Indeed the Irishman does, gingerly coming back onto the field after Jenas took one of the worst free kicks I've ever seen.

McCormack beats the offside trap on the right wing but doesn't quite have the pace to burst into the box as veteran defender Dunne shows good legs to get back and put off the Scot. Chance wasted.

Hoilett comes away with the ball from a 50-50 with Austin and has plenty of space to shoot but slices his effort well wide. The home side really do look low on confidence and short of ideas.

Jenas feeds Traore, who cuts back onto his stronger left foot before having a pop but his shot is blocked.

CHANCE! Finally some good buildup from the hosts as they work it brilliantly before Jenas rises high to head at goal but can't get enough power on it to beat Butland.

They don't particularly deserve it, but the home side are level. It is a lovely goal though as Jenas plays it into Doyle, who holds it up before returning it to the former Tottenham man. He takes it in his stride and then finishes coolly past Butland from the edge of the box.

CHANCE! And now QPR could be ahead as Jenas's corner is met by Hill, but he can only direct his header well wide of the target.

We're level at the break then and Redknapp will certainly take that. His side were second-best for 40 minutes but ended the half well and scored an equaliser at the perfect time just before the interval.

It was the Championship's top scorer Ross McCormack who put Leeds ahead with a fortunate free kick that deflected into the corner. It came just three minutes after the Scot had had a penalty saved by Robert Green.

QPR might feel hard done by as both the aforementioned penalty and free kick were contentious decisions. Both were extremely hard to call and you can't blame referee Foy for giving Leeds the benefit on both decisions.

Doyle is struggling against the Leeds back four and appeared to be hurt by this Warnock challenge. Will the Irishman be back out for the second half?

PHOTO: Kevin Doyle is fouled by Stephen Warnock of @LUFC #QPRvLEE pic.twitter.com/yZG4L3DJ4z

— QPR FC (@OfficialQPR) March 1, 2014

STATS! Although they've been second-best for much of the game so far, QPR have had much more of the ball with 66% possession. They've also had more shots but the majority were speculative efforts.

Here come the two teams back out of the tunnel. There doesn't seem to have been any half-time changes from either manager.

KICKOFF! Visitors Leeds get us back underway. Today's attendance at Loftus Road is 16,448, with a sell-out 1,794 travelling Leeds fans.

CHANCE! Oh what an opportunity for QPR to go in front almost straight from kickoff as Morrison slips in Traore. The left-footer just has Butland to beat but blasts it straight at him from close range.

BOOKING! Kebe goes into the book early in the second half. That's two Leeds players who have been cautioned.

QPR look like a completely different team here. They finished the first half strongly and have picked up where they left off at the start of the second.

Peltier makes a great tackle on Hoilett but gets an accidental blow to his side from the Canadian and has the wind knocked out of him. There's a brief stoppage as Leeds's right-back receives attention.

It might sound nasty, but that Peltier problem has actually helped Leeds as it just stopped QPR's momentum at the start of the second half. The last few minutes have been pretty even with nothing much happening.

Warnock commits a silly foul to give QPR a free kick in an inviting position. The left-back needs to be careful as he's already been booked.

Nice shot of Jenas stroking the equaliser home just before half time:

PHOTO: @jjenas8 scores against @LUFC in the first half #QPRvLEE pic.twitter.com/L5uKSXttCf

— QPR FC (@OfficialQPR) March 1, 2014

Poor decision by Foy as he blows for a QPR free kick even though Lees clearly took the ball when challenging Morrison.

BOOKING! The first QPR player to be booked is goalscorer Jenas for a cynical tug on Austin, who was trying to start a break.

QPR SUB: Redknapp is the first to make a substitution as he sends on Manchester United loanee Will Keane for the disappointing Hoilett.

CLOSE! Wickham is inches away from a debut goal as he shifts the ball onto his right foot before drilling a powerful low effort just wide.

Keane's introduction means that QPR now have two up front. Morrison has dropped a little deeper.

Looks like McDermott is preparing his first change and that will be young midfielder Alex Mowatt. I'd expect one of the wingers to be brought off and McDermott to shore up the middle.

LEEDS SUB: As expected, it's one of the wingers who departs as Stewart jogs off. I personally would have taken Kebe off as he's done absolutely nothing.

Here's a shot from @LUFCPictures of McCormack curling home the opener:

Ross McCormack goal. pic.twitter.com/w2xCnuq6oo

— LUFC Pictures (@LUFCPictures) March 1, 2014

Worrying signs for Leeds as McCormack is challenged fairly by Henry inside his own area when trying to clear. The ball breaks to Keane but he can't fashion a shooting chance and now McCormack is being dealt with by the physio.

After a lengthy delay, McCormack is back on the field and looks to be moving OK. Just over 15 minutes to go here, will there be a winning goal?

There really has been little to speak of in this second half. Traore had a good chance just moments after the resumption while Wickham came closest for the visitors with an effort that flashed wide.

The sunglasses come in handy for Massimo Cellino as he watches Leeds in the sunshine at Loftus Road. #PASoccer #lufc pic.twitter.com/SBZh1sNRz3 — PA Dugout (@PA_dugout) March 1, 2014

LEEDS SUB: A change in central midfield by McDermott as Michael Brown replaces Luke Murphy.

As things stand in the table, both QPR and Leeds will be moving to within six points of their goals. QPR will be six off automatic promotion, Leeds will be six off the playoffs. Come 5pm after the remaining 11 fixtures today, that's all likely to change. Burnley vs. Derby is a huge match at Turf Moor in the race for second place.

QPR SUB: Tottenham Hotspur loanee Tom Carroll is on for Jenas, who looks to have picked up a knock.

Hughes almost gifts Wickham a run at goal with a poor touch but Onuoha is aware and outmuscles the Sunderland man before clearing calmly.

Just after McCormack's cross was well overhit, Redknapp makes his third and final change by sending on Yossi Benayoun for Morrison, who has done OK on his home debut.

The lack of attacking football on the pitch is causing a flat atmosphere in the stands. Neither side looks like they really want to commit for a winner. Leeds, especially, will be content with a point.

BOOKING! Terrible tackle from Henry that he's rightly booked for. His stupidity has given Leeds a free kick in a great position.

SAVE! Substitute Mowatt curls it over and it's met by Wickham, whose header into the turf is comfortably, if a little awkwardly, palmed out by Green.

FIVE minutes are added on by the fourth official. Will either side really have a go?

Mowatt dispossesses Henry in the middle and plays a one-two with McCormack before he is challenged well by Onuoha, who is probably man of the match for his excellent defensive work.

Oh my! QPR think they've won it as Hill swats a volley into the far corner from a flick-on. Loftus Road erupts but the linesman's flag is up on the far side and he's completely correct as Hill was offside.

LEEDS SUB: Last-minute change by McDermott as he takes off Kebe for promising youngster Sam Byram. McDermott whittling away the seconds. He's happy with a draw.

All over in sunny West London as QPR and Leeds play out a 1-1 draw. The first half was much more entertaining than the second but overall it's probably the right result.

QPR now have the same amount of points in March as they achieved in the whole of February. However, they're now five without a win and second-placed Burnley will be licking their lips at the chance to pull further clear of the chasing pack if they can beat Derby in the day's huge game.

Anyway, we've got to dash here but thanks for joining SM this afternoon. I'll leave you with this link which has links to all of today's live scores and our numerous commentaries. ENJOY!