Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 2 (Bamford pen 30, Harrison 35)

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Williams 39)

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper (Berardi 72), Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison (Davis 90+2), Costa (Hernandez 81), Roberts, Bamford.  Subs not used: Meslier, Douglas, Gotts, Clarke. 

Blackburn: Walton, Nyambe, Williams, Holtby (Evans 69), Adarabioyo, Travis, Bennett, Downing, Dack,  Armstrong (Graham 60), Gallagher (Buckley 69).  Subs not used: Leutwiler, Johnson, Rothwell, Bell, Evans.

Booked:  Phillips (Leeds), Williams, Buckley (Blackburn)

Referee: G. Ward

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 35,567 (973 Blackburn)

Leeds United’s fine home form continued as Blackburn Rovers were dispatched at Elland Road thanks to a Patrick Bamford penalty and strike from Jack Harrison.

Both sides struggled to create chances in the opening stages of the match, with a Stuart Dallas strike from the edge of the box which went well wide, being the closest either team came to scoring.

In the 24^th minute Dallas again had an opportunity to unleash another attempt on goal.  Space opened up for the Northern Ireland international and he drove forwards before hitting an effort from the edge of the box, but he couldn’t keep it down.

Five minutes later Leeds were awarded a penalty.  Tyler Roberts sent Luke Ayling into the box with a splendid chipped pass and he was felled by Tosin Adarabioyo, resulting in referee Gavin Ward pointing to the spot.  Bamford stepped up to take the penalty and slotted home his fifth goal of the campaign.

Leeds almost immediately doubled the lead when Dallas sent Ayling to the byline with a fine pass.  Ayling then found Helder Costa in the Blackburn box, but he couldn’t direct a strike on target.

Leeds did go further ahead in the 35^th minute.  Bamford superbly controlled a high ball before unselfishly laying the ball off to Harrison who found the back of the net via the post.

The two goal advantage lasted just four minutes though as Blackburn pulled a goal back from a Stewart Downing corner, with defender Derrick Williams heading home.

Ben White tried a speculative long range strike from distance before the break, but Leeds had to settle for a one goal cushion at the interval.

Half time: Leeds United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Leeds nearly added a third six minutes into the second period.  Costa drove up the pitch well, before sending Harrison into the Blackburn box, but he blasted over the bar.

Harrison then showed great control before striking at goal but his strike was superbly blocked.  The ball then fell for Liam Cooper who unleashed a thunderous effort from a narrow angle which was well saved by Christian Walton.

The Whites were dealt an injury blow in the 72^nd minute when captain Cooper had to be withdrawn due to injury, with Gaetano Berardi coming on in his place.

Harrison had a great chance to seal the game 10 minutes later when Roberts found him with a neat pass, but he fired just inches wide with his strike from a narrow angle.

Roberts then tried his luck from range and only a fine stop by Walton who tipped his effort around the post prevented him from adding to the Leeds tally.

Following a period of Blackburn pressure, Leeds counter-attacked and Klich teed up Bamford who fired a volley wide from 25 yards.

The Whites then saw out stoppage time, to come away with all three points and a fourth successive home victory.

Full time: Leeds United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers