Leeds United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers: Patrick Bamford scores for first time since August as hosts win

Patrick Bamford's first-half penalty was his first goal since 24 August

Patrick Bamford scored his first goal since August as promotion-chasing Leeds United held out for victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Bamford gave the hosts a deserved lead when he slotted home from the spot after Tosin Adarabioyo had fouled Luke Ayling in the area and then played in Jack Harrison to make it 2-0 with a good finish.

Derrick Williams crashed in a header from Stewart Downing's corner to give the visitors a lifeline before the break.

But Leeds dominated the second half, with Tyler Roberts and Harrison both going close to a third, but ultimately two was enough.

• Relive Saturday's Championship action

Marcelo Bielsa's men remain third in the Championship after victories for West Brom and Preston, over Hull and Huddersfield respectively.

They were on top throughout against Tony Mowbray's Rovers, whose goal by centre-back Williams came from their only effort on target.

Bamford's penalty to open the scoring ended a run of 10 matches without a goal and the former England Under-21 international was instrumental in the second too, as his neat touch and pass set Harrison up for his second in two games.

Leeds travel to Luton after the international break, while Blackburn, who have slipped to 18th, host lowly Barnsley.

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa:

"This is a player (Bamford) with a big character and a big personality. He took the responsibility (for the penalty), which isn't easy for him."

"At that moment (2-0 up), it was difficult to think the opponent could score. But after they scored, everything changed.

"After we scored twice, we had 10 or 12 chances but in the first and the second half we had a lot of spaces to attack. We didn't take advantage of that as much as we should."

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray:

"It's always intense when you come to Elland Road, but the referee gives a penalty, which I've seen back a few times on the laptop and it's soft to say the least. It spoiled a little bit of the game.

"Is the standard of refereeing in the Championship dropping, or is it just me? It felt like that game was a bit much for him.

"Leeds didn't have hundreds of shots and when we got back to 2-1 there was a nervousness about them. We wanted to prey on that nervousness but it never materialised."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Leeds

• 13Casilla
• 2Ayling
• 5White
• 6CooperSubstituted forBerardiat 72'minutes
• 15Dallas
• 23PhillipsBooked at 80mins
• 17Hélder CostaSubstituted forHernándezat 81'minutes
• 43Klich
• 11Roberts
• 22HarrisonSubstituted forDavisat 90+4'minutes
• 9Bamford

Substitutes

• 1Meslier
• 3Douglas
• 19Hernández
• 28Berardi
• 36Gotts
• 40Davis
• 47Clarke

Blackburn

• 1Walton
• 31Bennett
• 2Nyambe
• 24Adarabioyo
• 3WilliamsBooked at 54mins
• 27Travis
• 22HoltbySubstituted forBuckleyat 69'minutesBooked at 75mins
• 7ArmstrongSubstituted forGrahamat 60'minutes
• 23Dack
• 19Downing
• 9GallagherSubstituted forEvansat 69'minutes

Substitutes

• 4Johnson
• 8Rothwell
• 10Graham
• 13Leutwiler
• 17Bell
• 29Evans
• 39Buckley

Referee:

Gavin Ward

Attendance:

35,567

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBlackburn

Possession

Home68%

Away32%

Shots

Home15

Away4

Shots on Target

Home4

Away1

Corners

Home4

Away5

Fouls

Home9

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Leeds United 2, Blackburn Rovers 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Blackburn Rovers 1.

Posted at 90'+5'

Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Ryan Nyambe (Blackburn Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Leeds United. Leif Davis replaces Jack Harrison.

Posted at 90'+1'

Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Ryan Nyambe (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 89'

Attempt blocked. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mateusz Klich.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mateusz Klich following a fast break.

Posted at 88'

Attempt blocked. John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Danny Graham.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).

Posted at 88'

Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Offside, Leeds United. Stuart Dallas tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.

Posted at 85'

Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Kalvin Phillips with a cross.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Christian Walton.

Posted at 84'

Attempt saved. Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mateusz Klich.

Posted at 83'

Hand ball by Bradley Dack (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 82'

Attempt missed. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tyler Roberts following a fast break.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kalvin Phillips.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Leeds United. Pablo Hernández replaces Hélder Costa.

Booking

Posted at 80'

Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United).

Posted at 80'

John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Bradley Dack (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Elliott Bennett.

Booking

Posted at 75'

John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 75'

Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 73'

Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by John Buckley.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Leeds United. Gaetano Berardi replaces Liam Cooper because of an injury.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Hélder Costa.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Patrick Bamford (Leeds United).

Posted at 70'

John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Corry Evans replaces Sam Gallagher.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. John Buckley replaces Lewis Holtby.

Posted at 66'

Offside, Leeds United. Kalvin Phillips tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.

Posted at 64'

Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).

Posted at 64'

Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 62'

Attempt blocked. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 61'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

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