Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Leeds United: Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville strike at Ewood Park
- Published
- comments
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 with a clinical performance against Blackburn Rovers 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.
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 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 Archie 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.
Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson:
"We're extremely disappointed to lose. Overall it was an excellent performance against a very good squad, a Premier League squad with a lot of good players. We all know how good Leeds are in transitions. They scored two goals in transitions.
"The difference with the two teams was the clinical things. We probably got into better areas than the opponent, but played against a very good side. I think my players did a good job. I think they will get automatically promoted.
"Second half actually, I think we were the much better side. We got into very good areas where we were not connected well enough in the final third. But they were just a little more clinical, and of course, had quality."
Leeds boss Daniel Farke:
"Two really good possession sides and you have to accept that both sides will have their spells where they dominate the game in possession, but also to be especially switched on in the moments when you win the ball to be there and use quick counter-attacks. This is what we did more or less for both goals. They were ice-cold finishes.
"I'm especially pleased that we travel back with a clean sheet against a really good and dangerous side. We didn't allow them to have much. They had their spells in possession but in terms of big chances, there was not too much.
"It was important after a few weeks where we have conceded one goal, sometimes even two goals, today to return absolutely rock solid defence with a clean sheet. It's a really good performance and a massive win for us. I'm pretty delighted."