Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has called for more consistency after his club and Burnley were yesterday charged by the FA with failing to control their players during last Saturday’s game at Elland Road.

A melee broke out in the 57th minute when Burnley’s Chris McCann caught Leeds’ Max Gradel with a high challenge.

Players steamed in from both sides and there were bookings for McCann and Leeds pair Eric Lichaj and Neil Kilkenny.

Grayson said: “It was a serious tackle by their lad and on another day he could quite easily have been sent off. I want my players to show passion about what they are doing and to stick up for their team-mates but there is no consistency because we had a similar incident with Nottingham Forest and were not charged with anything.

“I am not saying they ought to readdress it and bring charges for that as well but there is no consistency. I have a responsibility to make sure I behave and my players and staff behave, but sometimes you can’t take away that passion.”

If United score at QPR tomorrow they will reach their highest seasonal total of league goals for 41 years.

Not since Don Revie’s ‘Super Leeds’ side stockpiled 84 goals in 1969-70, when they finished second to League champions Everton, have United reached the 80 goals mark.

They are currently on 79, the same total they managed in 1989-90 when they won the old Second Division title under Howard Wilkinson’s management.

It is mathematically possible for Grayson’s men to qualify for the play-offs but they need a miracle. They must defeat QPR, Nottingham Forest must lose at Crystal Palace and there must be a six-goal swing in United’s favour.

Luciano Becchio is again missing with the hamstring injury that requires minor surgery next week.

Should United reach the play-offs, Becchio’s operation will be delayed in case he is able to regain sufficient fitness to play. Either way, United’s leading scorer will be fit to report back for pre-season training with the rest of the players.

Meanwhile, George McCartney is unlikely to have his loan spell from Sunderland extended into next season after he was heavily criticised by chairman Ken Bates.

The defender’s claims that fatigue was to blame for United’s recent slump angered Bates, who questioned McCartney’s commitment, criticised his form and claimed he had been fined more than once for turning up late for training.

Defender Patrick Kisnorbo has a chance of making his first appearance since suffering a ruptured Achilles in March last year.

Kisnorbo’s contract expires at the end of June but Grayson said: “I want to keep him and he wants to stay. We have to cover ourselves so it may be that we offer him a short-term deal with an option to stay longer when he proves his fitness over a number of games.”