30th November, 2024, EFL Championship.
I was forced to miss the trip to Blackburn, a little hospital procedure (nothing too serious) took far longer than I anticipated and, by the time they let me out, it was too late to get to Blackburn. Hence I’ve had to piece together my summary of the game from media reports, highlights, and the regular updates I was getting from mates. The only other game this season I’ve missed, was the home defeat to Burnley so perhaps this is all my fault!
If ever we needed a reminder that Leeds will not run away to a Championship title this season, the trip to Ewood Park was it. We knew it would be tough; Rovers had recently re-found their early season form and their win at Middlesbrough this week raised a few eyebrows; that was a backs-to-the-wall ‘defend what we’ve got’ effort too and should have ensured we were solid defensively early in the game. We also know that to win any game in the Championship you have to be completely on your game for the whole game; Leeds, for once, were not and failures we’ve seen periodically surfaced again; sleepy moments at the back and a failure to turn possession into regular big chances.
Leeds bossed the possession in this one as much if not more than in most games, but a moment of defensive naivety and a failure to turn possession into clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes meant the home side could defend their way to all three points again. It was similar to that defeat we suffered at the hands of Rovers’ near neighbours Burnley earlier in the season and our only other league defeat at Millwall, also 1 – 0 of course. It was also annoying that Leeds couldn’t find their ‘A’ game in front of one of the season’s biggest away followings; that has happened with us a few times in recent years.
Blackburn started the game well and we should remember that they struck the crossbar as early as the 11th minute; Joe Rodon finding himself the wrong side of his man and then being out-jumped by Ohashi. We were lucky that the follow-up shot was fluffed wide too.
But, once the storm was weathered Leeds got into their stride and things looked positive. Willy Gnonto was lively on the left side - this time paired on the flanks with Dan James, Manor Solomon sitting this one out. Gnonto stole the ball from a poor keeper’s pass out of defence but Pears made up for his error with a good save. Gnonto then cut in from the left and powered a shot that once again Pears got his hands to and palmed it away. It all looked good at this stage but then came one of those sloppy, sleepy defensive moments we know this side of ours can suffer from on occasions. Junior Firpo was caught out of position, not for the first time in his Leeds career and Struijk, covering on the left, was beaten too easily by Tyrhys Dolan cutting inside. Ao Tanaka then came from the wrong side to try to make amends but merely barged the Rovers’ man to the turf. It looked a needless challenge at best, a naïve one at worst.
I think every Leeds fan then had a pretty good idea of how the rest of the game would go; Blackburn would defend their priceless lead with every sinew in their bodies, they’d time-waste and they’d just keep an eye out for any chance of a breakaway. Leeds hopes would depend on continuing to boss the possession and using it to create a few moments of magic to get through the inevitable Blackburn block. We had the possession but this time that creative spark was missing. I don’t subscribe to players being tired from playing three games in a week (Blackburn only had two of course) but Leeds certainly looked like they were short of energy – physical and mental. Whatever the cause, 13 shots from 72% possession is not good enough.
The chances we created were at best half-chances – Pascal Struijk powered a header in from a Rothwell free kick that Pears saved at point blank range and substitute Patrick Bamford had a few glimpses of goal in his half hour cameo at the end but looked exactly what he is; woefully short of match sharpness. When we did get the ball in the net it was the unfortunate Bamford who was ruled offside; at best a very marginal call indeed but sort of in keeping with our fortunes.
We do have a history of cocking things up just when it looks like we are in the clear and this was a classic case of that but, then again, we all know results like this will happen during a long Championship season. We have to ride the punches and come back stronger, starting with the two upcoming home games against Derby and Boro. That would restore the momentum nicely and avoid this little set-back turning into a full-blown crisis.
Sky Bet Championship
Blackburn Rovers 1 (Cantwell 22’ pen)
Leeds United 0
Rovers: Pears (GK), Brittain, Pickering, Hyam, Tronstad, Cantwell (Hedges 90’), Dolan, Batth, Ohashi (Gueye 63’), Beck, Travis (C). Subs not used: Hilton (GK), McFadzean, Rankin-Costello, Leonard, Buckley, Cozier-Duberry, Baker.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Struijk, Rodon, James, Rothwell, Piroe (Bamford 69’), Aaronson (Solomon 69’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Ramazani 69’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Joseph, Guilavogui, Debayo, Wober, Crew.
Referee: Lewis Smith
Booked: Travis, Dolan (Rovers) Bogle, Ramazani (Leeds)
Venue: Ewood Park
Attendance: 21,942 (7,501 away)