BLACKBURN ROVERS: JANSSON HEADS HOME LATE WINNER

BLACKBURN ROVERS: JANSSON HEADS HOME LATE WINNER

Goals from Stuart Dallas and Pontus Jansson secure the three points for Leeds at Ewood Park

EFL Sky Bet Championship

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Bennett 84)  Leeds United 2 (Dallas 74, Jansson 89)

Pontus Jansson's last minute header secured Leeds United all three points at Ewood Park and back to back victories in the Sky Bet Championship.

Head coach Garry Monk re-shuffled his pack following Sunday's defeat at Sutton United, with only Stuart Dallas retaining his place in the starting line-up.

Clear-cut chances were limited in the first period for both sides, Liam Bridcutt's goal-ward half volley inside nine minutes was unable to test Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele.

A sliced clearance from Gaetano Berardi almost gave Danny Graham a sniff at goal, however Rob Green was equal to it, sweeping up the danger.

Leeds had a shout for a penalty in the 19th minute, with Stuart Dallas and Kemar Roofe appealing for a handball by Darragh Lenihan following a Dallas cross, but referee Geoff Eltringham waved away the appeals.

United's best opportunity came just moments later, Chris Wood was bundled over on the edge of the box and the New Zealand striker stepped up to take the set-piece, firing just inches wide from 20 yards.

Eunan O'Kane then managed to break into the Rovers penalty area, he weaved through the defence, but couldn't get his strike away, with Blackburn clearing.

Some fine football starting with a wonderful cross-field switch from Berardi gave Luke Ayling the chance to cross into the area, however Roofe could only head wide, as both sides went into the break level.

Half Time: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Leeds United

United made one change at the break with Pablo Hernandez replacing Hadi Sacko, Roofe had an early chance, but he was unable to control a good cross in a dangerous area.

Rovers pressed to take the lead with a number of corners, however each set-piece was safely cleared by the head of instrumental defender Pontus Jansson.

Substitute Hernandez then whipped a cross into the box, it found Dallas at the back post, but under pressure, he could only head wide.

Blackburn then went close from a free-kick, from a narrow angle Elliott Bennett forced a really neat save from Green, who tipped the ball around the post.

The Whites got a breakthrough in the 74th minute, after being encouraged to attack by the away end, Liam Bridcutt put a great ball into the back post and Dallas provided a sublime low finish to give United the lead.

However Leeds' chances of coming away with three points took a dent ten minutes later, when Bennett found the bottom left corner from 30 yards.

Leeds though rallied and did secure all three points at the death, when Jansson headed home Hernandez's corner, to send the travelling 6,000 contingent into jubilation, with Leeds moving eight points clear of seventh placed Sheffield Wednesday.

Full Time: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Leeds United

Rovers: Steele, Greer, Williams, Lowe, Feeney, Graham, Mulgrew, Gallagher, Nyambe, Lenihan, Bennett.  Subs not used: Raya, Joao, Guthrie, Tomlinson, Mahoney, Brown, Conway.

United: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, Bridcutt, O'Kane, Roofe (Doukara 61), Sacko (Hernandez 46), Dallas, Wood.  Subs not used: Silvestri, Antonsson, Doukara, Hernandez, Phillips, Vieira, Coyle.

Booked: Jansson (Leeds)

Referee: G. Eltringham

Venue: Ewood Park

Attendance: 17,026 (6,402 Leeds)

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