Leeds 0-1 Blackburn: Sammie Szmodics grabs winner as Rovers pull off stunning Elland Road win

Sammie Szmodics’ late purpose gave relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers a shock victory as Leeds United once more did not take an opportunity to go prime of the Championship.

Keeper Aynsley Pears’ lengthy kick was flicked on by Sam Gallagher to Tyrhys Dolan, whose wonderful go put Szmodics by way of.

Szmodics coolly slotted previous keeper Illan Meslier to go away the Elland Highway crowd surprised and elevate Rovers 5 factors away from the underside three.

For the second time within the area of some days, leaders Leicester shedding handed each Leeds and Ipswich possibilities to go prime.

Leeds did not take that chance in midweek, managing only one shot on track throughout a goalless stalemate at residence to Sunderland on Tuesday and Ipswich additionally drew 0-0 at residence to Watford 24 hours later.

The Suffolk aspect, nevertheless, went prime after they secured some extent in a 1-1 draw at residence to Middlesbrough within the 15:00 BST kick-offs.

Following Leicester’s 1-0 loss at Plymouth on Friday night, Leeds have been decided to not fluff their strains once more.

However Blackburn have been additionally seeking to make amends, having been thrashed at 5-0 at Bristol Metropolis and so they defended nicely, irritating the raucous residence crowd.

Pears stored out first-half strikes from Willy Gnonto and Connor Roberts, whereas Ilia Gruev missed an honest probability for Leeds when he headed broad of the close to submit after good work on the left by Crysencio Summerville.

The guests have been joyful to defend in numbers and didn’t threaten till a counter-attack 5 minutes earlier than half-time.

Szmodics pounced on Summerville’s under-hit go to Roberts and darted in direction of the left-hand fringe of the penalty space earlier than seeing his low shot pushed away by Meslier.

Though Leeds have been straight again on the entrance foot after the interval, with Gnonto firing simply broad, they survived two main second-half scares.

After Meslier gave the ball away with a woeful throw, Joe Rankin-Costello blasted narrowly broad.

And a miraculous piece of defending by Roberts – once more after Leeds gave the ball away – then prevented a sure purpose.

Szmodics, on the proper of the penalty space, centred in direction of Dolan, who was denied a easy close-range end by Roberts one way or the other managing to divert the ball away from him.

Leeds went shut on three events earlier than Szmodics’ winner: Pears denied Junior Firpo, Gnonto was simply unable to get a contact on the far submit to Daniel James’ shot and Patrick Bamford headed a James cross over the bar.

As Daniel Farke’s aspect desperately sought an equaliser, they appealed in useless for a penalty when Bamford went down within the field within the remaining moments, with a member of the Leeds teaching workers red-carded for his offended response within the technical space to the spot-kick not being given.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke informed BBC Radio Leeds:

“Once you face a aspect like Blackburn with a participant like Szmodics, he confirmed the standard which we did not present in the present day and he wanted only one probability to attain.

“So many balls went by way of the field, however you additionally want to point out the standard to place the ball within the web.

“For those who do not rating you might have a lot extra danger. There may be additionally a hazard there will probably be one second on your opponent and so they can rating. It is fairly disappointing and irritating for us.

“We did not put the ball into the online. For those who do not rating, you’ll be able to’t win the sport.

“It is as much as me if we do not rating – to search out options. I’ve to work with them in order that within the subsequent sport we create extra possibilities.”

Blackburn boss John Eustace informed BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I am very proud. The trouble the boys have given me since I got here in has been excellent.

“With out the ball we had a gameplan. We knew they’d take extra dangers as the sport went on and it was a unbelievable little bit of play to attain the purpose.

“We have got a high quality staff. Wednesday [losing 5-0 to Bristol City] was a little bit of a blip. It’s extremely evident that we’re tough to play in opposition to.

“It is essential that we maintain working arduous, sticking collectively, and we have three huge video games developing and know we nonetheless want factors.

“The one approach you get success is for those who stick collectively. We had a very tough time on Wednesday however the togetherness we confirmed – everybody thought we would come right here and lose – was super.”