Report: Leeds United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Sky Guess Championship

Leeds United 1 (Struijk 88’ pen)

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Batth 90’)

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle (Ampadu 51’), Struijk (C), Rodon, James, Rothwell (Gnonto 69’), Piroe (Joseph 69’), Aaronson, Solomon (Bamford 69’), Tanaka, Byram (Wober 45′). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Ramazani, Guilavogui, Schmidt.

Rovers: Pears (GK), Brittain, Hyam, Tronstad (C), Dolan (Rankin-Costello 81’), Weimann (Cozier-Duberry 81’), Batth, Hedges, Ohashi (Leonard 38’ (Gueye 81’)), Beck, Baker. Subs not used: Toth (GK), McFadzean, Buckley, Litherland, O’Grady-Macken.

Venue: Elland Street

Attendance: 36,645 (1,972 away)

Referee: Oliver Langford

Booked: Tanaka, Aaronson (Leeds) Baker, Batth, Pears (Rovers)

To start the calendar yr of 2025, Leeds United confronted a tricky opponent in John Eustace’s visiting Rovers facet at Elland Street.

In a hard-fought sport all through, each objectives got here within the remaining minutes of the match, as Pascal Struijk’s penalty was rapidly cancelled out by Danny Batth’s close-range leveller to share the factors.

While the Whites sat prime of the Sky Guess Championship desk, the away facet had been in fifth after a robust opening half of the marketing campaign and had lately received the reverse fixture with a one-nil scoreline.

Getting underway on the afternoon of New Yr’s Day, the opening 10 minutes or so had been quiet when it comes to large probabilities, however Leeds had nearly all of the early possession.

Pascal Struijk pressured Aynsley Pears right into a routine save from a header off a Brenden Aaronson nook. Moments later the ‘keeper was almost caught out by Joel Piroe who charged him down, however the Rovers stopper hacked the ball away on the remaining second.

The match had been stop-start with small fouls, accidents and set-plays at both finish, however no actual openings had been forthcoming. Blackburn had been pressured into a primary change of the match as we approached the break, Yuki Ohashi coming off with Harry Leonard his alternative.

Shortly earlier than the break got here one of many extra memorable attacking probabilities, Dan James broke in behind the Rovers defence and performed low ball throughout the field, however with Piroe ready to show house, Dominic Hyam was there to clear the hazard.

That was to be that earlier than the break and regardless of 5 minutes of added time, the whistle sounded and despatched the groups again into the tunnel on stage phrases.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers

Again out for the second 45 minutes and it was Daniel Farke this time that had gone to his bench. Sam Byram got here off and was changed by Max Wober, in a straight swap at full-back.

That change was adopted with one other enforced one only a few minutes into the half, as Ethan Ampadu changed Jayden Bogle, because the full-back had picked up a knock.

The ambiance inside Elland Street was ramping up and the Whites had been probing the Blackburn defence, trying to find a approach by means of.

The area and alternative was approaching the wings, by means of James and Manor Solomon, who performed harmful balls into the world in the hunt for a end.

With 20 minutes to go, Farke opted for a triple change. Mateo Joseph, Patrick Bamford and Willy Gnonto all entered, freshening up the ahead line and in search of an opener.

The subs had been making an influence after approaching. From a Blackburn assault, James recovered the ball and broke free down the appropriate and located Gnonto within the center. He then performed Aaronson on the wing, who reduce inside, created area and shot, however curled his effort over the bar.

With simply three minutes to go, Gnonto set Wober free down the left-hand-side, he crossed into the field and Joseph took a contact earlier than being introduced down, which means referee Oliver Langford pointed to the penalty spot.

Stepping up from the again, staying calm and sending the goalkeeper the mistaken approach to discover the again of the web was Struijk!

Simply two minutes later although, the away facet equalised. From a deep cross into the Leeds field, the ball fell free and Batth was there to complete at shut vary.

Straight after the aim, 10 minutes of stoppage time was introduced, which means each groups had time remaining to go in the hunt for one other, and coming shut was Wober who pressured Pears into a superb save at his close to submit.

Regardless of the most effective efforts of the Whites pushing for a winner, a flurry of late yellow playing cards did arrive, however no extra objectives had been forthcoming which means each side would take some extent from the sport.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers