Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Leeds United 1.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers2LeedsLeeds United1
Jordan Rhodes scored twice as 10-man Blackburn came from behind to secure a dramatic late win over Leeds.
Adryan forced Jason Steele into a save before Souleymane Doukara swept the away side in front from close range.
Rhodes levelled when a defensive mix-up between Liam Cooper and keeper Marco Silvestri allowed him a simple finish.
Tom Cairney saw red for a second bookable offence before Luke Varney was fouled by Sam Byram and Rhodes dispatched the penalty to take the win.
The hosts were unbeaten in seven Championship games coming into the match and nearly took the lead early on when Ben Marshall set up Cairney who clipped the crossbar.
Marshall then forced Silvestri into a low save before Steele tipped over to deny Adryan a goal from 25 yards.
Steele lost his clean sheet minutes later however when Blackburn failed to deal with a corner and Doukara scored via the inside of the post.
The strike partnership of Rhodes and Rudy Gestede began to produce chances after the break, with Rhodes stinging Silvestri's palms and Gestede volleying wide.
Rovers were then gifted an equaliser through calamitous Leeds defending, Cooper and Silvestri clashing to allow Rhodes to fire into an open net.
Mirco Antenucci struck the post for Leeds before a dramatic finish.
First Cairney received a second yellow card for a foul on Cooper, then with minutes remaining, Varney went down under pressure from Byram and Rhodes stepped up to send Silvestri the wrong way and secure the points.
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer:
"I think it was our best win of the season. I thought we were good first half, conceded a scruffy goal, hit the bar with Tom Cairney. Steele made a good save but I thought we controlled the possession.
"But in the second half I thought we totally dominated the game. I can only remember Leeds hitting the post in the second half.
"The sending-off changed the game a little bit but full credit to our lads. The desire, belief, character, unity and commitment to each other was just unbelievable. And backed by magnificent support today. It was reminiscent of the Premier League days."
Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn:
"We deserved to win, that's the bottom line. I didn't think Blackburn deserved anything. They huffed and puffed a bit in the second half but I thought we dealt with it.
"The first goal, we gave them and the second has never been a penalty. It's difficult for referees but those decisions, they have to get right. It should have been a free-kick to us and a yellow card for simulation.
"It's just a poor decision. I've looked back at it, I saw it straight away and it looked like a dive. It's not good for football really."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-2
- 30Steele
- 15Baptiste
- 5Hanley
- 22DuffyBooked at 44mins
- 14Olsson
- 10CairneyBooked at 82mins
- 29EvansSubstituted forTaylorat 89'minutes
- 17WilliamsonSubstituted forTunnicliffeat 65'minutes
- 12Marshall
- 11Rhodes
- 39GestedeSubstituted forVarneyat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Henley
- 8Dunn
- 13Eastwood
- 16Varney
- 19Taylor
- 25Tunnicliffe
- 32Conway
Leeds
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Silvestri
- 2Byram
- 32Cooper
- 6Pearce
- 3WarnockBooked at 90mins
- 14BianchiSubstituted forBellusciat 76'minutes
- 23L CookSubstituted forSharpat 89'minutes
- 27Mowatt
- 9Oliveira TavaresBooked at 28mins
- 34Antenucci
- 29Doukara
Substitutes
- 4Austin
- 5Bellusci
- 8Sharp
- 12Berardi
- 13Taylor
- 18Tonge
- 24Dawson
- Referee:
- Kevin Wright
- Attendance:
- 21,432
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamLeeds
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Leeds United 1.
Booking
Stephen Warnock (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Stephen Warnock (Leeds United).
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Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Giuseppe Bellusci (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ryan Tunnicliffe (Blackburn Rovers).
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Luke Varney.
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Attempt blocked. Alex Mowatt (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Stephen Warnock.
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Attempt blocked. Adryan (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giuseppe Bellusci.
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Foul by Jason Pearce (Leeds United).
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Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Taylor replaces Corry Evans.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Billy Sharp replaces Lewis Cook.
Goal!
Goal! Blackburn Rovers 2, Leeds United 1. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Penalty conceded by Sam Byram (Leeds United) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Blackburn Rovers. Luke Varney draws a foul in the penalty area.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) for a bad foul.
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Foul by Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers).
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Liam Cooper (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
