Todd Cantwell gives Blackburn the lead from the penalty spot
Blackburn stopped Leeds returning to the top of the Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Ewood Park.
Todd Cantwell’s first-half penalty, converted after Ao Tanaka had felled Tyrhys Dolan in the area, proved enough for in-form Rovers to post a third win on the spin.
Blackburn, who had been under pressure for much of the second half, had chances to increase their lead late on but had to settle for a one-goal margin.
Defeat brought an end to Leeds' three-match winning streak and leaves them trailing leaders Sheffield United by three points.
Blackburn enjoyed a bright opening and then coped well with Leeds having the lion's share of possession, as the visitors lacked the sharpness and precision in attack to get past John Eustace's men.
There was no doubt about the penalty that ultimately decided the game as Dolan cut inside Pascal Struijk from the right channel before having his run into the box unceremoniously ended with a barge from Tanaka.
And there was similar clarity with Cantwell’s execution as the midfielder fired low into the side netting to Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s right.
Brenden Aaronson missed chances to level before the break and Willie Gnonto and Struijk saw efforts saved or blocked in the early stages of the second half.
Yet as Leeds poured forward looking for parity, Rovers had a couple of openings themselves, Cantwell twice going close in as many minutes, first dragging a volley wide and then seeing a left foot shot blocked by Struijk.
With the match winding towards a nervy conclusion, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford had three chances to equalise as Rovers clung on.
But he twice missed the target with headers before seeing a shot go past the post as Blackburn saw out nine minutes of added time to claim the points.
Blackburn head coach John Eustace speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire:
"Outstanding performance and very proud of the boys. All round we were brave trying to play out from the back and while it caused us a couple of problems and gave them a couple of opportunities, we tried to play the right way and with good attacking football as well, trying to go toe-to-toe with a good team.
"They did have lots of the ball and that was always going to happen but it is important when we get the opportunities we have to be more clinical. But the most important thing is we got the three points.
"It is important that Todd Cantwell is off the mark now as I think it has been playing on his mind a little bit. He could have scored a couple more but he is getting in the right areas and playing some fantastic football."
Leeds head coach Daniel Farke speaking to BBC Radio Leeds:
“Blackburn had the better start and for that they deserved to win the game. We started too slow and gave too many unnecessary free-kicks and fouls away. The penalty was the same.
“Lazy is perhaps too harsh but we should have had a bit more aggression and been quicker in the head.
“I was not happy with our start and we have to be ready and quicker and do the yards that are really hurting and we didn’t do that.
“Due to their postponed game they had more or less one game in the last 10 days whereas this was the third in six days for us and an early kick-off as well."
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke frustrated after defeat at Blackburn
