James strikes again as Leeds beat Blackburn
Dan James scored his seventh Championship goal of the season to put Leeds ahead before the break
Daniel James grabbed his third goal in three games as in-form Leeds United made it six Championship wins from seven games with a clinical performance at Ewood Park.
James drilled a fine low shot beyond keeper Leopold Wahlstedt and into the corner to put the visitors ahead after an uneventful first half.
Rovers, who have now lost six league games at home already this season, improved after the break and started to create chances, notably when Hayden Carter headed over.
But the impressive Crysencio Summerville wrapped up a victory that closes the gap on second-placed Ipswich to four points, before the afternoon kick-offs, with a clever, chipped finish as he ran through on goal.
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James' fine low strike - his seventh of the season - was the first and only effort on target during an even first half low on clear-cut chances.
Blackburn, whose boss Jon Dahl Tomasson was absent from the dugout serving a one-game touchline ban for his red card in their defeat by Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, won seven corners, but they could not trouble keeper Illan Meslier, with James Hill's looping header as close as they came.
Predictably, Rovers' top scorer Sammie Szmodics was their most likely source of a goal, narrowly failing to get on the end of a Harry Pickering cross and then heading wide after James put the visitors ahead.
Leeds, who are now unbeaten in seven matches and have won nine from 11, had the better first-half chances, Joel Piroe unlucky to see a curling free-kick deflected wide and Georginio Rutter firing an effort past the post.
Rovers played with greater purpose after the interval, having penalty shouts waved away when the the ball hit Pascal Struijk's arm in the area and Callum Brittain shooting into the side netting.
But Summerville's ninth goal of the season, from Arche Gray's delightful pass, doubled United's lead and ended any realistic hopes of a Rovers win which would have put them into the final play-off spot.
Leeds held on despite continued late home pressure which saw Meslier make a stunning save from substitute Arnor Sigurdsson and referee Bobby Madley wave away more claims for a spot-kick when Jake Garrett went down in the box as he tussled with Ethan Ampadu.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBlackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
12Wahlstedt4Hill17Carter16S Wharton3Pickering6Tronstad23A Wharton24Moran8Szmodics2Brittain20Leonard
- 12Wahlstedt4HillSubstituted forEnnisat 80'minutes17CarterBooked at 79mins16S Wharton3Pickering6Tronstad23A WhartonBooked at 65minsSubstituted forGarrettat 80'minutes24MoranBooked at 17minsSubstituted forMarkandayat 84'minutes8Szmodics2Brittain20LeonardSubstituted forSigurdssonat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Sigurdsson14Ennis15Gamble18Markanday30Garrett31Atcheson33Telalovic34Hilton37Bloxham
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Meslier22Gray14Rodon21Struijk25Byram4Ampadu8Kamara20James7Piroe10Summerville24Rutter
- 1Meslier22GrayBooked at 63mins14Rodon21Struijk25ByramSubstituted forSpenceat 70'minutes4AmpaduBooked at 85mins8Kamara20JamesSubstituted forGnontoat 69'minutes7PiroeSubstituted forGruevat 89'minutes10SummervilleSubstituted forAnthonyat 84'minutes24RutterSubstituted forJosephat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Cooper12Anthony17Shackleton28Darlow29Gnonto30Gelhardt39Spence44Gruev49Joseph
Referee:Robert MadleyAttendance:20,963Match StatsHome TeamBlackburnAway TeamLeedsPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome12Away8Shots on TargetHome2Away4CornersHome13Away3FoulsHome11Away7Live Text Post update
Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Leeds United 2.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Leeds United 2.
90'+7'Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Niall Ennis is caught offside.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Scott Wharton (Blackburn Rovers).
90'+3'Post update
Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Mateo Joseph replaces Georginio Rutter.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Ilia Gruev replaces Joël Piroe.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Dilan Markanday.
85'Booking
Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
85'Post update
Jake Garrett (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'Post update
Foul by Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United).
84'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Dilan Markanday replaces Andrew Moran.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jaidon Anthony replaces Crysencio Summerville.
83'Post update
Foul by Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers).
83'Post update
Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'Post update
Attempt missed. Scott Wharton (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Moran with a cross following a corner.
82'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Illan Meslier.
82'Post update
Attempt saved. Arnór Sigurdsson (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Andrew Moran with a cross.
81'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Crysencio Summerville.
80'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Jake Garrett replaces Adam Wharton.
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Source: bbc.com
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