Sky Guess Championship
Blackburn Rovers 1 (Cantwell 22’ pen)
Leeds United 0
Rovers: Pears (GK), Brittain, Pickering, Hyam, Tronstad, Cantwell (Hedges 90’), Dolan, Batth, Ohashi (Gueye 63’), Beck, Travis (C). Subs not used: Hilton (GK), McFadzean, Rankin-Costello, Leonard, Buckley, Cozier-Duberry, Baker.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Struijk, Rodon, James, Rothwell, Piroe (Bamford 69’), Aaronson (Solomon 69’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Ramazani 69’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Joseph, Guilavogui, Debayo, Wober, Crew.
Referee: Lewis Smith
Booked: Travis, Dolan (Rovers) Bogle, Ramazani (Leeds)
Venue: Ewood Park
Attendance: 21,942 (7,501 away)
A primary half Todd Cantwell penalty noticed Blackburn Rovers defeat Leeds United, bringing the latest successful run to an and for Daniel Farke’s aspect.
The Whites walked out at Ewood Park within the early kick-off to a loud reception from the 7,501 travelling supporters, filling the complete finish behind the objective.
The guests have been in good kind heading into the match, having tasted victory of their earlier three outings, together with a snug three factors in opposition to Luton City final trip.
They have been contested although by a troublesome Rovers outfit who have been additionally filled with confidence, having received their final two matches, together with a formidable victory and clear sheet away at Middlesbrough in midweek.
When the sport received going, a primary massive probability of the opening half got here for the house group and it was created in some type.
Callum Brittain hit a primary time volley as a cross into the center, discovering Yuki Ohashi who powered a header in opposition to the crossbar. On the observe up, Owen Beck had one other good probability, however missed the goal.
The Whites then had a superb probability of their very own. Profitable the ball excessive up the pitch, Willy Gnonto dispossessed the Blackburn backline and shot on objective, forcing Aynsley Pears into a superb save.
Moments later and Gnonto was vigorous once more, slicing in from the left, beating two gamers earlier than curling in direction of the highest nook solely to see Pears produce a wonderful diving save once more.
With 20 minutes gone, the hosts went into the lead. Tyrhys Dolan was introduced down within the field underneath a problem from Ao Tanaka, which allowed Cantwell to step up and slot residence the penalty.
Seeking to bounce again from going behind, Farke’s aspect had some shut moments on their quest to discover a leveller.
First up Joel Piroe was inches from intercepting a back-pass, however Pears raced out of his objective and closed it down. Then it was an offside flag, which narrowly denied Brenden Aaronson and Jayden Bogle’s link-up play down the fitting, because the fullback burst into the field.
No additional targets or possibilities did then arrive earlier than the break, which despatched the house aspect again into their dressing room with a one-goal benefit.
HALF TIME: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Leeds United
Neither group made a change on the break and it was Leeds who had the primary probability after the restart. A free-kick into the field from Joe Rothwell noticed some pinball, earlier than it bounced to Gnonto, who struck nicely on objective however noticed it blocked.
One other Rothwell set-play created the subsequent opening, however Pears got here out on prime once more within the Blackburn web. He crossed a free-kick to the back-post, Pascal Struijk related nicely however his header was saved, earlier than Gnonto’s subsequent effort was blocked once more.
While Blackburn have been comfortable to absorb the United stress and cope with it, they have been a menace themselves on the counter. Dolan was their major menace and he push ahead and received a set-play, from which Danny Batth had an effort saved by Illan Meslier.
Farke went to his bench with 20 minutes to play, making a triple change. Gnonto, Aaronson and Piroe have been changed by Patrick Bamford, Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon, freshening up the assault looking for a leveller.
It was really Rovers who had the subsequent two good possibilities although, each of which fell to the goalscorer, Cantwell. His first one was sliced vast contained in the field, and the second was blocked by an outstretched leg on the last probability.
Leeds did then have the ball within the web with 10 minutes to play, however have been denied by an offside flag. From a nook, Bamford’s effort cannoned off the submit and fell to Ramazani who fired residence, however the flag went up within the construct up.
Mateo Joseph was then despatched on because the guests saved pushing. He changed Rothwell, which means the Whites have been all out assault. After many stoppages all through the second half, there was 9 minutes of added time introduced.
Regardless of the fixed stress and balls into the field, Farke’s aspect couldn’t discover an equaliser, which means Blackburn claimed the three factors at Ewood Park.
FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Leeds United