MX23RW : Friday, January 17 22:41:02| >> :120:17822:17822:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Championship | Gameweek 43
Apr 13, 2024 at 12.30pm UK
Elland Road
Blackburn logo

Leeds
0 - 1
Blackburn


Fernandez (90+7')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Szmodics (82')
Carter (28'), Dolan (42'), Tronstad (47'), Pears (85')

Leeds United Championship promotion hopes hit by Blackburn Rovers defeat

Leeds promotion hopes hit by Blackburn defeat
© Reuters
Leeds United suffer a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, their first defeat at Elland Road all season, to miss out on moving back into the Championship automatic promotion spots.

Leeds United's hopes of earning automatic promotion from the Championship have been hit by a 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

Daniel Farke's side went into the contest without a single defeat at Elland Road all season and they dominated large portions of the game in Yorkshire.

However, a late Sammie Szmodics goal - his 24th in the league this season - proved to be the difference, catapulting Rovers six points clear of the bottom three.

As for Leeds, they remain in third position in the standings, one point adrift of each of Leicester City and Ipswich City who have played a game fewer.

Leeds controlled the match during the early stages, only being denied the lead through Aynsley Pears producing a save to keep out Wilfried Gnonto's 20-yard strike.

Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev also failed to hit the target with efforts of their own, before Pears kept out a strike from Connor Roberts.

Blackburn went 40 minutes without having a single shot on goal, but that changed five minutes from the break as Szmodics's strike was kept out by Illan Meslier after Crysencio Summerville had been dispossessed on the halfway line.

Needing to up the ante, Leeds predictably went back on the offensive after the restart, Gnonto going closest with a shot that just missed the target.

However, Blackburn remained a threat on the break and came agonisingly close to going ahead, with Roberts having to clear off the line at the back post with Tyrhys Dolan about to convert from close range.

Daniel Farke opted to ring the changes, introducing Sam Byram, Daniel James and Patrick Bamford, and it helped give Leeds a second wind as the game entered the final quarter.

Bamford should have perhaps put the home side in front, rising highest to meet a cross, but the forward mistimed a header that went harmlessly over the crossbar.

Moments later came the sucker-punch that the home fans would have feared. A long ball was headed down by Sam Gallagher and subsequently hooked into the path of Szmodics by Dolan, and the division's top goalscorer did the rest with a cool finish past Meslier from the edge of the area.

While Leeds laid siege to the Blackburn goal in search of an equaliser, they failed to create another noteworthy chance, leaving Blackburn to celebrate a win that could be the difference between survival and relegation come the end of the season.

ID:541287:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5360:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Leeds vs Blackburn

Leeds United
66.7%
Draw
33.3%
Blackburn Rovers
0.0%
6
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United's Crysencio Summerville celebrates scoring their first goal with Georginio Rutter on March 29, 2024
Read Next:
Liverpool 'join Arsenal, Chelsea in race for Championship winger'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley27141123192253
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2612683123842
6Middlesbrough26118743321141
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
8Watford26115103637-138
9Bristol City2691073330337
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2678112941-1229
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Cardiff CityCardiff2659122641-1524
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Portsmouth2558123044-1423
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2649132554-2921


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!