RELIEF FOR MONK AFTER BARTLEY HAS LAST WORD

GARRY MONK finally claimed his first home win as Leeds boss in a nerve-shredding finale at Elland Road. Yet he insisted: ‘I’m not relieved, I’m just pleased.’ In truth, it was a night when only the result really mattered. But you would never have guessed the stakes in this basement battle from the bullish demeanour of Owen Coyle, whose Blackburn side stay bottom as the only Championship side without a win. Coyle, philosophical over his future, claimed Leeds keeper Rob Green should have been sent off after leaving his area to clatter into Sam Gallagher in the opening minutes. It left both players bandaged and Green booked. Referring to Green’s second-half heroics, Coyle said: ‘It took two fantastic saves from the keeper who shouldn’t have been on the field for endangering an opponent, who has stitches in his head.’ Monk’s pre-match address could be interpreted as a thinly veiled plea for patience. The 37-year-old is Massimo Cellino’s seventh boss in two and a half years at Elland Road but this win should at least buy him a little time. The result transferred all the pressure to Blackburn’s beleaguered boss despite his insistence that he was ‘staying calm’ and had been encouraged by the performance. The Scot saw his team bow to a late Kyle Bartley header, having threatened to snatch victory from behind. Chris Wood put the home team ahead just after the hour to ease the tension that stifled both sides. Wood, dropped to the bench, emerged to divert home from close range after a fine run and cross from Hadi Sacko. Ten minutes later, Marvin Emnes, also on as a substitute, equalised and then only a double save by Green kept Leeds level. But Bartley (above) powered in after a free-kick from substitute Alex Mowatt to give Leeds a precious victory and manager Monk a lifeline. ‘I’m especially pleased for the fans whose support has been great,’ said the former Swansea boss. ‘It was the character that stood out — that sheer will to win.’