Winning ugly: Garry Monk admits Leeds United were lucky to beat Blackburn Rovers

The game was far from a classic and the only shots on target all resulted in goals.

Stuart Dallas - the only survivor from the FA Cup loss at Sutton United - opened the scoring in the 74th minute, controlling beautifully and firing home his first league goal of the season.

Blackburn equalised nine minutes later through Elliott Bennett’s long-range effort but Pontus Jansson popped up in the 89th minute with a bullet header to send the travelling contingent of almost 6,500 into raptures.

It was Leeds’ fourth successive win over Blackburn in all competitions and the first time they have secured the double over these opponents since 2003/04.

And after collecting maximum points - which narrows the gap to second-place Newcastle to five - Monk enthused about his team’s character.

He said: “It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination. Neither team got control of anything. (It was) A bit to and fro, a bit of a grind.

“I said to the players afterwards, I said: ‘Look, there’ll be situations you’ll face throughout the season and there’s six or seven games you can’t play at your best, but you have to make sure you find a way to win’. And I think the mentality we have was very clear.

“We defended our box very well, stayed strong when it was difficult and in those crucial moments we scored two good goals. Yes (we were) a bit lucky to come away with the three points but the mentality and character is what I was pleased with. That’s the positive to come out of the game.

“We know we didn’t perform near our level but we found a way to win and for me, that’s a real good sign for a good team with a strong mentality.”

Blackburn’s current run of league form is worrying. They are still three points from safety despite defeat but they have now lost five of their last nine Championship outings.

Owen Coyle felt his team deserved something from the game but admits they were punished for switching off defensively.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about the disappointment we feel,” he said.

“I thought we looked the team at 0-0 that would get in front, with some great balls in the box, albeit we find ourselves behind to - I have to say - a wonderful finish.

“That being said we picked ourselves up, scored a very good goal through Elliott and had a wonderful chance through good football to get in front.

“We certainly seemed in control of the game at that time and we’ve switched off. Whatever you want to call it, lack of concentration. A wonderful delivery for the set-play but the lad’s been allowed a free header. It’s certainly hard to take.

“We certainly put enough into game to be taking something. Certainly a minimum of a point and probably with a bit of luck, maybe all three.

“There’s no doubt it’s very galling, disappointing, but those are the margins in this league and if you’re going to switch off for any given moment in the Championship, you’re going to get punished.”