Leeds United 2 Blackburn Rovers 1: Leeds up and running after Kyle Bartley rises late to the challenge

KYLE BARTLEY headed home an 86th-minute winner as Leeds United finally recorded their first home win of the season with a tense victory against the Championship's bottom side Blackburn Rovers.
Kyle Bartley heads in Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers.  Picture Bruce RollinsonKyle Bartley heads in Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers.  Picture Bruce Rollinson
Kyle Bartley heads in Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers. Picture Bruce Rollinson

Leeds took a 65th-minute lead when dropped striker Chris Wood came off the substitute’s bench to tap home Hadi Sacko’s cross.

The hosts looked to be cruising to a straight-forward victory but Rovers had other ideas and levelled with 13 minutes left when another substitute, Marvin Emnes, smashed home a drive from the edge of the box.

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But Leeds grabbed a dramatic winner just four minutes from time when Alex Mowatt’s right-wing free-kick was headed into the roof of the net by Bartley.

Leeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal.
 Picture: Bruce RollinsonLeeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Blackburn threatened first in the seventh minute.

A long looping ball over the top caught United’s back line napping and Rob Green came hurtling out of his area before clattering Sam Gallagher outside of his box.

Gallagher was clear but had knocked the ball past Green and towards the corner flag, leaving referee James Adcock to issue a yellow card, not red.

After a break in play while Green and Gallagher received treatment for injuries, Ben Marshall smashed his free-kick into the wall before Craig Conway lashed the rebound over the bar.

Chris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross
.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonChris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross
.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Chris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross . Picture: Bruce Rollinson
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The heavens then opened in the 14th minute and Green subsequently spilled a right flank cross from Conway, although a lack of Rovers pressure allowed the goalkeeper to gather the ball again.

At the other end, a cross by Charlie Taylor from the left was then hacked narrowly over the crossbar by Derrick Williams before Eunan O’Kane fired over from close range.

Sacko then narrowly failed to connect with a pulled back cross from Stuart Dallas before Luke Ayling’s low shot was saved.

Blackburn’s Gordon Greer was then booked for pulling back Pablo Hernandez before Dallas headed wide from a 32nd-minute corner, moments before another Dallas header was placed straight at Jason Steele, this time from a Hadi Sacko cross.

Kyle Bartley celebrates scoring Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers  Picture Bruce RollinsonKyle Bartley celebrates scoring Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers  Picture Bruce Rollinson
Kyle Bartley celebrates scoring Leeds' winning goal against Blackburn Rovers Picture Bruce Rollinson
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The rain, meanwhile, continued to pour amid dramatic thunder and lightning.

United’s Sacko was then cautioned for scything down Williams outside the area but United eventualy cleared the resulting free-kick and corner.

At the other end, the lively Dallas then smashed another effort over the bar from outside the box before a rather dull first half came to an end.

Blackburn then threatened within 30 seconds of the restart when United lost possession and Marshall fired just wide from outside the area.

Leeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal.
 Picture: Bruce RollinsonLeeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds celebrate Kyle Bartlett's match-winning goal. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
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Leeds then lost captain Liam Bridcutt to injury with the midfielder replaced by Phillips four minutes into the second half.

Hope Akpan’s attempt was then well off target for Rovers and Antonsson turned neatly before firing a powerful drive straight down Jason Steele’s throat.

Another Akpan effort at the other end was high and not so handsome. Rovers looked there for the taking and after a miscued effort from Hernandez was deflected away for a corner, Bartley headed just over from the subsequent set piece.

Monk then called for the introduction of Wood for Antonsson as the game passed the hour mark and the substitution paid instant dividends five minutes later.

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Sacko produced a fine run down the right wing and after skinning Williams and racing to the byline, the winger sent over a low cross that whizzed across goal and presented Wood with a tap in. So rarely had Blackburn threatened that already a home victory looked assured but, from nothing, Rovers levelled with 13 minutes left.

From a rare foray down the left-hand side, the ball was cleared to Emnes on the edge of the area and the striker was allowed far too much freedom and the opportunity to pull the trigger.

Chris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross
.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonChris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross
.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Chris Wood celebrates his opening goal off a Hadi Sacko cross . Picture: Bruce Rollinson

In almost identical fashion to the goal conceded against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, a rasping low drive beat Green all ends up at his right-hand post.

Rovers suddenly looked the more likely team to steal a winner and Green had to rush off his line to stop Emnes tapping home a second with nine minutes left.

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Monk then called for Mowatt from the bench, on for O’Kane as his last throw of the dice, but Rovers went extremely close to netting instead when two stinging shots from Emnes and then Gallagher were both parried away by Green.

But Leeds were to have the last laugh as from an 86th-minute free kick on the right, Mowatt’s delivery was met by Bartley who powered his header into the roof of the net.

United then had to survive nine nervy minutes of injury time in which Blackburn forced a series of corners but, unlike earlier on in the season, United were able to clear their lines.

At the other end, Sacko then missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 but his miss proved immaterial, much to the relief of those around Elland Road.

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Leeds United: Green, Ayling, Jansson, Bartley, Taylor, Bridcutt (Phillips 49), O’Kane (Mowatt 83), Hernandez, Dallas, Sacko, Antonsson (Wood 60). Unused substitutes: Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Doukara.

Blackburn Rovers: Steele, Lowe, Greer, Hoban (Lenihan 76), Williams, Evans, Conway, Akpan (Feeney 71), Marshall, Gallagher, Graham (Emnes 60). Unused substitutes: Raya, Feeney, Byrne, Samuelsen, Guthrie.

Referee: James Adcock