Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Leeds United 3.
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa's side strengthen position at top of table
- From the section Championship
Leeds United strengthened their position at the top of the Championship table with a resounding victory at Blackburn Rovers.
The visitors took an early lead when Mateusz Klich tackled Lewis Travers 30 yards from goal and slipped the ball through for Patrick Bamford to slot home.
Lewis Holtby thundered an effort against the post for Rovers before Kalvin Phillips curled in a superb 25-yard free-kick to give the Whites a 2-0 lead at the break.
Adam Armstrong halved the deficit soon after half-time with a wonderful free-kick of his own, but Klich quickly restored the two-goal advantage with a shot that Rovers keeper Christian Walton probably should have done better with.
Leeds, who remain six points clear of third-placed Brentford, had been frustrated in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with struggling Luton Town but took an early lead through Bamford's 15th of the season.
Sam Gallagher wasted a brilliant chance to quickly level after Elliot Rothwell played him in with a well-measured pass through the defence and, moments later, Holtby saw his effort come back off the post following Gallagher's clever ball.
In an open first 45 minutes Bamford's low effort came back off the post and Luke Ayling drew a good reaction save from Walton after a Barry Douglas corner.
Phillips put Leeds in total control shortly after with a beautifully-struck free-kick.
Armstrong's 14th of the season briefly got Tony Mowbray's men back into the match but Klich's effort from the edge of the area went through Walton's dive just five minutes later to end any hopes of a Rovers fightback.
Douglas forced a fine low save from Walton with another free-kick as Leeds comfortably saw out the rest of the game.
A third successive defeat for Blackburn leaves them eight points adrift of the play-off places.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray: "I think we made a game of it, especially in the first half when we missed a one on one and hit the post.
"They scored at strange times with soft goals and their third goal killed it.
"They come with an attitude and belief that they are going to win but I don't think it was a vintage performance from them.
"They're a good side with a world-class coach. The football world is looking forward to seeing how they'll get on in the Premier League against genuine class opposition. They're a club I like and I hope they do well because it will be exciting for the English game for them to be back in the Premier League."
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa: "Mateusz Klich did a great match for us, he unbalanced the game in our favour.
"Kalvin has very good quality and it was a beautiful goal.
"Every match in this period is very important and we need to stay focused."
Line-ups
Blackburn
- 1WaltonBooked at 74mins
- 2Nyambe
- 26Lenihan
- 24Adarabioyo
- 31BennettSubstituted forDowningat 22'minutes
- 27TravisSubstituted forDavenportat 69'minutes
- 4Johnson
- 8RothwellSubstituted forBuckleyat 69'minutes
- 9GallagherSubstituted forGrahamat 60'minutes
- 22HoltbySubstituted forSamuelat 60'minutes
- 7Armstrong
Substitutes
- 10Graham
- 11Chapman
- 12Samuel
- 13Leutwiler
- 14Mulgrew
- 18Davenport
- 19Downing
- 39Buckley
- 41Carter
Leeds
- 1Meslier
- 2AylingBooked at 28mins
- 5White
- 6Cooper
- 3Douglas
- 23Phillips
- 22Harrison
- 11RobertsSubstituted forHernándezat 61'minutes
- 43KlichBooked at 25minsSubstituted forShackletonat 89'minutes
- 10Alioski
- 9Bamford
Substitutes
- 7Poveda-Ocampo
- 19Hernández
- 28Berardi
- 30Miazek
- 34Struijk
- 36Gotts
- 40Davis
- 46Shackleton
- 48Stevens
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamLeeds
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home0
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Leeds United 3.
Attempt missed. Tosin Adarabioyo (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Stewart Downing following a set piece situation.
Foul by Barry Douglas (Leeds United).
Dominic Samuel (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Leeds United. Ben White tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Mateusz Klich.
Luke Ayling (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Stewart Downing (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt missed. Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stewart Downing with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United).
John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Luke Ayling (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jacob Davenport (Blackburn Rovers).
Liam Cooper (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pablo Hernández.
Attempt missed. Liam Cooper (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kalvin Phillips with a cross following a set piece situation.
Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt saved. Dominic Samuel (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Armstrong.
Luke Ayling (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jacob Davenport (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt saved. Barry Douglas (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Christian Walton (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Christian Walton (Blackburn Rovers).
Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jacob Davenport (Blackburn Rovers).
Offside, Leeds United. Jack Harrison tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.
Offside, Leeds United. Pablo Hernández tries a through ball, but Ezgjan Alioski is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. John Buckley replaces Joe Rothwell.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Jacob Davenport replaces Lewis Travis.
Attempt missed. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pablo Hernández following a corner.
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Bradley Johnson.
Luke Ayling (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt missed. Ryan Nyambe (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Danny Graham.
