Blackburn Rovers 0 Leeds United 2. The Away Kit Curse is Over. Our first win in anything other than a white shirt since Brentford back in May 2022. Leeds have now won nine of their last eleven matches.
The flow of the match oscillated between two evenly matches sides as Leeds used their pace and numbers to score their two goals, and then Rovers responded using the width of the pitch and set piece corners. Rovers never gave up but managed only one serious attempt on Meslier towards the end of the match.
Blackburn Rovers proved a tough opponent for Leeds. They more than matched Leeds for patient build up, using the width of the pitch and disciplined passing into the Leeds box, but Rodon and Struijk were able to protect the goal. Meslier was busier than usual as Rovers were able to force corner after corner.
After a quiet start there was a huge let off for Rovers half way through the first half as they fluffed their passing out from the back but Georginio lobbed too high. Then an opportunity for Rovers turned into a Leeds goal. After Rovers failed to break the Leeds defence a long pass to Georginio who does what he does best and stood up as he was tackled and carried on to place a pin point pass to James on the far right who confidently shot across the goal in to the far corner of the net.
The game immediately opened up with Rovers shouting for a penalty but the referee was not amused. Rovers then came out in the second half forcing an open game but Leeds failed to capitalise on the gaps in the Rovers defence. The difference was that Rovers could not find the Leeds net.
Struijk was monumental in his defending with sliding tackles that were carefully timed. Rovers were rattled that another penalty call – this one against Struijk -as he caught the ball on the floor in the penalty box, again dismissed by the referee.
Rovers dominated most of the second half, first to the ball keeping Leeds in their own half. The Leeds substitutes – Gnonto and Spence – used their pace to revive Leeds. But it was Gray who engineered the second goal with a quick one two with Georginio to set up Summerville who dinked the keeper to score Leeds’second.
Rovers felt decisions went against them but it was Leeds that had the quality to score, even if opportunities were rare.. Their extra gear – quick one twos going forward – show a team developing as a cohesive unit. Finally, the away kit curse is over.
After everyone else had left the pitch Farke gave Spence some coaching tips, then applauded the raucous 7,000 Leeds fans who made the trip. This is the season Summerville has come of age. With nine goals and six assists from just 17 Championship games this season he is pivotal in Leeds’ successful season so far.
Man of the match: Pascal Struijk for his critical interventions ensured Leeds kept a clean sheet.
