Sky Bet Championship

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Cantwell 22’ pen)

Leeds United 0

Rovers: Pears (GK), Brittain, Pickering, Hyam, Tronstad, Cantwell (Hedges 90’), Dolan, Batth, Ohashi (Gueye 63’), Beck, Travis (C). Subs not used: Hilton (GK), McFadzean, Rankin-Costello, Leonard, Buckley, Cozier-Duberry, Baker.

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Struijk, Rodon, James, Rothwell, Piroe (Bamford 69’), Aaronson (Solomon 69’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Ramazani 69’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Joseph, Guilavogui, Debayo, Wober, Crew.

Referee: Lewis Smith

Booked: Travis, Dolan (Rovers) Bogle, Ramazani (Leeds)

Venue: Ewood Park

Attendance: 21,942 (7,501 away)

A first half Todd Cantwell penalty saw Blackburn Rovers defeat Leeds United, bringing the recent winning run to an and for Daniel Farke’s side.

The Whites walked out at Ewood Park in the early kick-off to a loud reception from the 7,501 travelling supporters, filling the entire end behind the goal.

The visitors were in good form heading into the match, having tasted victory in their previous three outings, including a comfortable three points against Luton Town last time out.

They were contested though by a tough Rovers outfit who were also full of confidence, having won their last two matches, including an impressive victory and clean sheet away at Middlesbrough in midweek.

When the game got going, a first big chance of the opening half came for the home team and it was created in some style.

Callum Brittain hit a first time volley as a cross into the middle, finding Yuki Ohashi who powered a header against the crossbar. On the follow up, Owen Beck had another good chance, but missed the target.

The Whites then had a good chance of their own. Winning the ball high up the pitch, Willy Gnonto dispossessed the Blackburn backline and shot on goal, forcing Aynsley Pears into a good save.

Moments later and Gnonto was lively again, cutting in from the left, beating two players before curling towards the top corner only to see Pears produce an excellent diving save again.

With 20 minutes gone, the hosts went into the lead. Tyrhys Dolan was brought down in the box under a challenge from Ao Tanaka, which allowed Cantwell to step up and slot home the penalty.

Looking to bounce back from going behind, Farke’s side had some close moments on their quest to find a leveller.

First up Joel Piroe was inches from intercepting a back-pass, but Pears raced out of his goal and closed it down. Then it was an offside flag, which narrowly denied Brenden Aaronson and Jayden Bogle’s link-up play down the right, as the fullback burst into the box.

No further goals or chances did then arrive before the break, which sent the home side back into their dressing room with a one-goal advantage.

HALF TIME: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Leeds United

Neither team made a change at the break and it was Leeds who had the first chance after the restart. A free-kick into the box from Joe Rothwell saw some pinball, before it bounced to Gnonto, who struck well on goal but saw it blocked.

Another Rothwell set-play created the next opening, but Pears came out on top again in the Blackburn net. He crossed a free-kick to the back-post, Pascal Struijk connected well but his header was saved, before Gnonto’s next effort was blocked again.

Whilst Blackburn were happy to soak up the United pressure and deal with it, they were a threat themselves on the counter. Dolan was their main threat and he push forward and won a set-play, from which Danny Batth had an effort saved by Illan Meslier.

Farke went to his bench with 20 minutes to play, making a triple change. Gnonto, Aaronson and Piroe were replaced by Patrick Bamford, Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon, freshening up the attack in search of a leveller.

It was actually Rovers who had the next two good chances though, both of which fell to the goalscorer, Cantwell. His first one was sliced wide inside the box, and the second was blocked by an outstretched leg at the final chance.

Leeds did then have the ball in the net with 10 minutes to play, but were denied by an offside flag. From a corner, Bamford’s effort cannoned off the post and fell to Ramazani who fired home, but the flag went up in the build up.

Mateo Joseph was then sent on as the visitors kept pushing. He replaced Rothwell, meaning the Whites were all out attack. After many stoppages throughout the second half, there was nine minutes of added time announced.

Despite the constant pressure and balls into the box, Farke’s side could not find an equaliser, meaning Blackburn claimed the three points at Ewood Park.

FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Leeds United