LEEDS BLACKBURN WAM BAM TOP MAN Pat sinks Rovers
LEEDS BLACKBURN 4 ........Shots on Target ..........1 8 ........Shots off Target ..........1 4 ................Corners .................5 9 ..................Fouls.................. 12 6 ...............Offsides................ 0 81.0 ...Passing Success % ...50.4 495 ......Total Passes........ 234 68.1 ........Possession .........31.9 46.5 ..Territorial Adv %....53.5
■ Leeds’ Jack Harrison has been involved in six goals in his last six league games (2 goals, 4 assists), as many as in his previous 31 (3 goals, 3 assists).
MARCELO BIELSA hailed Patrick Bamford as Leeds’ Mr Personality after the striker ended his goal drought.
Bamford bagged his first goal in 11 games – and his fifth this season – from the penalty spot, before brilliantly teeing up Jack Harrison for his second strike in successive outings.
Blackburn hit back unexpectedly through centre-back Derrick Williams – the first goal Leeds had conceded at home in five hours and 10 minutes.
But Bielsa’s men stretched their unbeaten run to five matches and remain in third place as they head into the international break.
Boss Bielsa said of Bamford: “He’s a player who has a big character and a big personality. He took the responsibility for the penalty, but it wasn’t easy for him.
“We have shown superiority – they had just one shot on our goal. After we scored, we had 10 or 12 chances.
“But in the second half we had a lot more space to attack and we didn’t take advantage of that as we should.’’
But Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray insisted the penalty, awarded for Tosin Adarabioyo’s challenge on Luke Ayling, was “soft’’ – and questioned the quality of referee Gavin Ward.
Mowbray said: “Is the standard of officials dropping in the Championship this season, or is it just me? It feels as if the game has been too much for him.
“I’ve seen the penalty back a few times and it’s soft at best and never a penalty at worst.
“It didn’t fit in with the context of the game, which was intense with a lot of physicality.
“That’s the frustration as it gave them the opportunity to go ahead.’’
Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla has not been unduly affected by an FA charge – which he denies – of racially abusing Charlton forward Jonathan Leko.
Leeds surged further in front in the 35th minute when Bamford pulled the ball down and left it for Harrison, whose shot went in off the far post.
But Blackburn stunned the home side five minutes later when defender Willliams – who scored an own goal in his side’s 3-2 defeat here last season – was allowed a free header from Stewart Downing’s left-wing corner.