Blackburn 1-2 Leeds: Match Report

01 February 2017 22:34

Defender Pontus Jansson scores a last gasp header as Leeds defeat Blackburn

Pontus Jansson's 89th-minute bullet header secured a 2-1 win for promotion-chasing Leeds at Blackburn.

Whites boss Garry Monk was criticised for making sweeping changes in the FA cup defeat at non-league Sutton United but Stuart Dallas - ironically the only player from Sunday to keep his place - looked to have given the visitors the points in the 74th minute with a clinical finish.

Elliott Bennett levelled 10 minutes later with a spectacular 30-yard strike but Jansson popped up a minute from time with a close range header to win it for Leeds.

It was the visitors' first away league victory since Boxing Day and keeps them fourth in the Sky Bet Championship standings, comfortably in the play-offs.

Blackburn remained second bottom with just one win in their last 10 league games.

Charlie Mulgrew was back from injury for Blackburn who also had Liam Feeney available again. Liam Cooper was suspended for the visitors.

Rovers had the ball in the net four minutes in when Rob Green spilled the ball under Sam Gallagher's challenge and Jason Lowe tapped in but it was deemed a foul.

Neither side had a real sight of goal until the 22nd minute when Chris Wood's powerfully struck free kick from 20 yards whistled just past the right-hand post.

Gallagher's turn and shot was charged down towards the end of a forgettable first half during which neither side had a shot on target.

Considering Leeds' last clean sheet away came in October and Blackburn have managed only three all season, the lack of chances was something of a surprise, and Gallagher's wayward effort on the hour summed up the game until this point.

Green had to tip away a Bennett cross in the 69th minute with Mulgrew waiting and it proved crucial as Leeds hit the front five minutes later.

Liam Bridcutt's superb cross-field ball was superbly controlled on the left by Dallas and from six yards, he drilled an unstoppable low drive into the right corner of the net for his first league goal this season.

But Rovers hit back 10 minutes later through Bennett who, for the second successive game, found the net in stunning fashion. The midfielder found space 30 yards out and lashed an effort goalwards that seemed to catch Green by surprise before nestling into the bottom corner.

The hosts' new signing Lucas Joao missed a superb chance moments later when he ballooned over from 12 yards and Rovers were made to pay a minute from time when Jansson met a corner with a bullet header six yards out to guarantee the points.


Source: PA