Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United - Whites hoping for more open game, says Kalvin Phillips

Kalvin Phillips hopes Blackburn Rovers come out to play today after Leeds United were frustrated by Luton Town on Tuesday.

Desperate to pick something up against a far superior team on paper, the relegation-threatened Hatters set up cagily at Elland Road, snatched an excellent counter-attacking goal through Harry Cornick and held out for a 1-1 draw.

Dealing with tactics like that comes with the territory for the best side in a division, and Leeds laid on more than enough chances to win, but Phillips is hoping for a more open game at the home of a Blackburn side whose recent form has left them needing wins to make the play-offs.

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Luton came to not get beaten, came to frustrate us and just sat back,” commented Phillips. “We find it more comfortable going at a team that’s coming at us, catching them on the counter-attack and just having a good battle.

Kalvin Phillips (Picture: Simon Hulme)Kalvin Phillips (Picture: Simon Hulme)
Kalvin Phillips (Picture: Simon Hulme)

“With Luton it frustrated us a little bit, you kind of saw that towards the end of the game, us players arguing and stuff. It’s not really in our nature.

“We had a talk afterwards and said no matter what happens we’ve got to keep on fighting to try and get results.”

Asked what Leeds needed to improve on, Phillips replied: “Just be more accurate, be more consistent with the passes that we’re using to go forward and try not to be wasteful.

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“The amount of chances we have, we should score more goals, it’s just the way we are, we play with such high energy sometimes, the lapse in concentration could be right at the end of an attacking move.

Helder Costa shoots. as Leeds United are held by Luton Town.  (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Helder Costa shoots. as Leeds United are held by Luton Town.  (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Helder Costa shoots. as Leeds United are held by Luton Town. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

“A massive thing is that if we don’t concede we know we’re going to get a result.

“If that Luton result was swapped with the Fulham game (a 3-0 win), there wouldn’t be so much panic.

“The lads are confident. If we keep working hard we’re more than capable of getting a result against Blackburn.”

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Leeds are likely to be without Stuart Dallas, who injured his hamstring on Tuesday. Liam Cooper picked up a dead leg.

Dan Potts holds Luke Ayling off the ball.
 (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Dan Potts holds Luke Ayling off the ball.
 (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Dan Potts holds Luke Ayling off the ball. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

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