Match Report: Leeds rule the roost over Rovers

Form
Leeds WDDWLW
Blackburn Rovers WLLDLD

Leeds unchanged from QPR(H)
Blackburn unchanged from Sheffield Wednesday(H)

Leeds continued their winning ways as they followed up last weeks victory over QPR with another home win over Blackburn Rovers,

Leeds now go into the international break with only one defeat in seven games. I must say the respect shown during the minutes silence for those who we lost in conflict was superb and credit to all the fans for observing it.

Leeds players remember the fallen.

The home side weren’t dominant in the opening minutes, it looked as they were working out what system their opponents were using and adapted to it before getting into their stride. To be honest it was a very scrappy first twenty minutes when both teams gave the ball away far too much.

The first good opportunity came to Leeds, Stuart Dallas strode through a static Rovers to unleash a powerful shot, unfortunately it sailed over Walton’s bar and probably warmed the hands of a fan in the South Stand.

On twenty eight minutes Leeds were awarded a penalty, Tyler Roberts delightful chip into the path of Luke Ayling ended with the Leeds defender upended in the box. The crowd held it’s breath as sometimes maligned striker Patrick Bamford strode, ball in hand to the penalty spot, placed it down and sent the ball into the other side of the goal as Walton dived in the other direction.

1-0 Leeds and the relief on the striker’s face told it’s own story. Fair play to him for having the mental strength to take it after his barren run that goes back to Stoke City back in August.

Bamford celebrates

Five minutes later Leeds doubled their lead, Kalvin Phillips played a superb ball from midfield that found Patrick Bamford, he took one touch to control it then passed the ball to the on-rushing Jack Harrison who put the ball pasted Walton via a post.

Cooper leads the celebrations as Jack makes it 2-0

Leeds were in total control, but as they have in the past let Rovers back into the game on forty minutes, Downing’s corner went across the penalty area and Williams headed past Casilla with little challenge from a Leeds defender. A really ‘soft’ goal to give the visitors hope in a game that had been running away from them. Just before the break Stuart Dallas tried his luck from distance but the ‘daisy cutter’ didn’t trouble Walton. 2-1 at the break.

To be honest the second half followed the same path as the first, Leeds dominated the midfield in the early parts of it. The battle between Kalvin Phillips and Bradley Dack was an interesting one as the Rovers man fought gamely to keep the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ on his toes.

Phillips sent a superb corner that evaded everybody, a touch from a white shirted player would have definitely brought the third goal. Costa, having a much better game went through the Rovers midfield then the defence to set up Harrison, but the goalscorer blasted the ball over the bar when a cut back into the area would have found Mateusz Klich, the Polish international who has just extended his stay at the club showed his displeasure at Harrison for not been passed the ball.

Rovers brought on Graham, Buckley and Evans as they shuffled their pack to try and get level. Leeds though wanted more goals and defender and captain Liam Cooper found himself in the Rovers penalty area, he unleashed a powerful shot but it shot passed the far upright. Another Phillips corner caused confusion in the Rovers defence but they eventually cleared the ball upfield.

Liam Cooper was substituted without less than twenty minutes to play, the Leeds skipper gingerly walking off the field. It is hoped that it’s not the same injury that kept him sidelined earlier in the season. Patrick Bamford, buoyed by his goal in the first half created another chance for Harrison but his effort was blocked by a Rovers defender, the same player shot over when he burst through the tired looking Blackburn rearguard.

Leeds introduced Pablo Hernandez to torment the ‘leggy’ defenders with ten minutes to play. Tyler Roberts, who had another good game warmed the hands of Walton who made a good stop to deny the Welshman. United made their last change with the game going into four minutes of injury time. Leeds MOTM Jack Harrison getting a standing ovation for his efforts, Leif Davis coming on.

Game over

A very ‘workman’ like performance, better than QPR as Leeds dominated their opponents despite the closeness of the final score. Impressed with Harrison, Bamford, Roberts and Ben White at the back. The centre half is the signing of the summer and no wonder other teams are looking at him as a future acquisition.

MOTM: Jack Harrison, one goal and a good shift from the winger.

Attendance 35,567.

MOT

By Keith Ingham