UNITED 3 (Diouf 43, McCormack 57, Becchio 65) BLACKBURN 3 (Olsson 19, Gomes 26, Rochina 84)
Leeds: Kenny, Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Drury, Diouf, Austin, Norris, Varney (Byram 90), McCormack, Becchio. Subs: Ashdown, Kisnorbo, White, Brown, Gray, Poleon.
Blackburn: Robinson, Dann (Hanley 10), Ribeiro, Givet, Etuhu, Pedersen, Murphy, Olsson, Formica (Lowe 55), Rhodes, Nuno Gomes (Rochina 76). Subs: Paulo Jorge, Edinho Junior, Orr, Kean.
Referee: N Swarbrick
Booked: Varney (Leeds), Formica (Blackburn)
Listen to live commentary on Yorkshire Radio or LUTV.
United entertained a Blackburn side packed with former Premier League players boosted by the anticipated signing of El-Hadji Diouf on a short-term deal until January.
Blackburn included their most recent addition, Jordan Rhodes, in the starting line-up for his debut while goalkeeper Paul Robinson made his competitive return to Elland Road.
The visitors arrived with an unbeaten record in the league and Paddy Kenny was the first goalkeeper to be called upon when he beat away a Morten Gamst Pedersen shot after some good build-up play by Blackburn.
The visitors started the game strongly and put Leeds under some early pressure, but United soaked up those early attacks, and looked to get a foothold in the game.
But Blackburn did get their noses in front inside the opening 20 minutes. Pedersen played a diagonal defensive splitting ball and Markus Olsson was able to escape in space before drilling the ball past Kenny to make it 1-0.
Moments later, Kenny was called upon again to save well from Pedersen after Blackburn moved it forward quickly and incisively once again.
It was 2-0 before the half-hour though when Pedersen and Olsson were involved again and Nuno Gomes drilled a shot past Kenny with the aid of a deflection.
There was a huge penalty appeal from United when Ross McCormack claimed he had been dragged down by Grant Hanley, but the referee waved away the shouts and awarded a corner.
Leeds were back in it shortly before half-time, though when after Blackburn twice cleared the ball off line, Diouf was rewarded for his perseverance when he stabbed the ball home from close range for his first goal for the club.
And Diouf almost made it 2-2 within a minute when a McCormack free-kick was half-cleared and Robinson made a stunning save to deny the United man.
The former United keeper also made another important save in stoppage time and after struggling for the opening half-hour, United finished with a final 15-minute flurry that had Blackburn hanging on.
Leeds started the second half on the front foot and Gael Givet made a decisive block as Luke Varney looked to drill the ball into the six yard box. At the other end, Danny Murphy sent a shot wide at the second attempt after his first was blocked.
United were soon on level terms, though, when Ross McCormack finished off a move that started with a long ball forward by stabbing beyond Robinson to level matters.
Still Leeds fought, and when David Norris lifted a Diouf corner into the box, Lucianio Becchio saw his header blocked right on the line.
There was no denying Becchio on 65 minutes though when he headed home from close range after some horrendous defending by the visitors following another Diouf ball into the box.
United were temporarily celebrating again moments later when Jason Pearce headed home a McCormack free-kick, but the referee ruled the 'goal' out for a foul by the central defender. Still Leeds came, though, and Robinson had to save a stinging shot from Becchio.
Diouf went close again with just over 10 minutes remaining, but it was Blackburn who levelled followed a contentious free-kick. The ball was played into the box, and Ruben Rochina scored with a back-heel through a crowd of players which slipped past an unsighted Kenny.
Five minutes of of stoppage time ensured the game remained in the balance, and United had another penalty shout waved away during the final moments. At the other end, Dickson Etuhu shot wide.
And, right at the very death, Diouf stabbed a shot over the bar after showing more guile to work himself the opening.
