Leeds United vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.
Elland RoadAttendance19,666.
Friday 30 October 2015 10:08, UK
Leeds' wait for victory at Elland Road stretched to almost eight months as two goals inside the first six minutes secured Blackburn their first away win of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Craig Conway struck in Blackburn's first attack after just 17 seconds and Jordan Rhodes made it 2-0 to leave Leeds' latest head coach Steve Evans without a win in his first three matches.
Blackburn's last away win was in April last season, at Elland Road, while a first success on the road in 10 matches is the perfect response to last weekend's home defeat to local rivals Burnley.
For Leeds, whose last home win was in March against Ipswich, there was plenty of defiance on the terraces with whole-hearted chants for owner Massimo Cellino to go, but there was little on the pitch as they produced another insipid home performance.
Cellino lodged his appeal against his latest Football League disqualification on Wednesday and it will concern fans that fiery Scot Evans has not managed to instil in his players the bloody-mindedness of the club's Italian owner.
Blackburn's first attack was rewarded with a goal before most had settled in their seats. Ben Marshall swung over a cross from the right and the ball skimmed off Leeds skipper Sol Bamba's head to the far post, where the unmarked Conway buried a low shot past Marco Silvestre.
Leeds had hardly caught their breath when Blackburn went at them again five minutes later and found themselves 2-0 up.
Visiting midfielder Tom Lawrence gave Leeds centre-half Liam Cooper the slip inside the area and fed Rhodes, who twisted away from his marker to fire in a low angled drive inside Silvestre's right-hand post.
Blackburn threatened to cut Leeds apart every time they ventured forward and the home side's first effort on goal - Lewis Cook's well-struck drive was easily held by Rovers' goalkeeper Jason Steele - was met by sarcastic cheers from home supporters.
That was followed almost instantly in the 17th minute by a planned minute's applause, which spread throughout the stadium in tribute to Leeds season-ticket holder Skye Thompson, who died unexpectedly at the weekend aged 17.
Leeds began to settle down around the half-hour mark and Mirco Antenucci volleyed their best chance into the side-netting after being teed-up by Stuart Dallas.
The home side went closer four minutes before the break when Sam Byram's cross was headed against the post by Tom Adeyemi.
Evans sent on winger Jordan Botaka for Adeyemi six minutes into the second half as Leeds began to hog possession - but the final delivery was ineffective and only a last-ditch tackle by Cooper at the other end, on Conway, denied the visitors a third goal.
Blackburn midfielder Hope Akpan's shot was blocked by Bamba and Conway's effort held by Silvestre before defender Grany Hanley was forced off after a collision with Leeds midfielder Luke Murphy. Hanley was later replaced by former home favourite Matthew Kilgallon.
Antenucci's 81st-minute shot forced Steele to save and in the closing stages substitute Alex Mowatt fired just wide as another display broadcast live on Sky Sports ended in more disappointment for the Elland Road fans.
"We won't get sucked in (to a relegation fight), I've come here to sort it out. Let's be honest, if the actual playing squad was left, it would be a battle to stay in the division, but we're going to address some of that. We're working hard to do that, but I keep saying we only want to bring in players who will make a difference."
"We spoke about the importance of starting well. There were lots of things said in the build-up before the game about what it was going to be like here, so it was important we came out the traps very fast. That was probably faster than what we expected but we'll take it. The manner of our performance was outstanding and I'm delighted for them because they're an honest bunch."
