Carling Cup Goes Flat: Rovers 3 United 0
leedsunited.com
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell rang the changes for this Carling Cup tie, making it plainly clear that the club's priority this season is in the league.
It wasn't just the personnel that changed either, with a 4-5-1 formation being employed rather than the customary 4-4-2 that Leeds fans have come to expect this season.
The lone striker was Robbie Blake, with another striker, David Healy, played out on the left wing, whilst Ian Moore patrolled down the right flank.
Sean Gregan was recalled in midfield alongside Gylfi Einarsson and Danny Pugh, whose only starts this season have come in the cup.
At the back Blackwell kept the defence intact with the exception of Frazer Richardson moving to right-back with Gary Kelly rested.
Blackburn showed they were taking the Carling Cup seriously with only two changes to the side that beat Birmingham City at the weekend, Todd in for the injured Nelsen and Emerton for Bentley.
The Match
Leeds spent the first few minutes trying to find their feet with their new formation, whilst Blackburn made little progress in finding an early breakthrough.
Shefki Kuqi saw a shot blocked on the edge of the area by Paul Butler and Paul Dickov's flick on the end of a Lucas Neil cross was about as close as they came.
United's first chance came in the tenth minute. Frazer Richardson grabbed the headlines with a spectacular goal against Sheffield United last week but couldn't repeat his feat when presented with an opportunity in almost the same position.
This time he went for placement rather than power but got it horribly wrong as the ball sailed well wide and high of the left hand post.
Kuqi was clearly a threat for Leeds though and when he curled a shot just wide of the left hand upright it was a real let-off.
The home side were presented with another chance midway through the half when Gylfi Einarsson was judged guilty of bundling down Kuqi some 25-yards out to concede a free-kick. Pederson eventually took it and the wall managed to do half a job by taking the power out of the shot and Sullivan collected comfortably.
Leeds did play some very good passing football in the first half, but with just one up front, they were lacking an outlet for that final ball to hurt Rovers.
Just after the half hour mark Blackburn has their best chance when Neil's pass from the right fell perfectly to Dickov some 12 yards out, but the Scottish international just lifted his shot into the arms of Neil Sullivan, it was a real let-off for United.
Shortly afterwards Leeds felt they could have had a free-kick in a decent position when Ian Moore was tripped on the edge of the area after receiving Blake's inside pass, but the decision went against the former Burnley forward.
Blackburn continued to press but Leeds managed to hang on. A free-kick awarded to Blackburn 30-yards out was taken by Savage and Sullivan was forced to tip the ball over his own bar. From the corner Andy Todd put a free-header wide at the back post.
At half-time, Leeds had done enough to keep the scores level without threatening too much themselves, but it was definitely a platform to build on.
No changes for either side at half-time, this game picked up where it had left off with Blackburn still on top.
Five minutes into the half Kuqi should have done better but headed a cross wide, whilst Leeds still looked to contain Blackburn.
The home side made a change in the 53rd minute that spelled trouble for Leeds. The lightening quick Craig Bellamy came on for Kuqi, who despite causing Leeds plenty of problems was sacrificed for the pace merchant.
Exactly on the hour mark Blackburn took the lead with the substitute involved.
Bellamy knocked the ball through Dan Harding's legs to play Brett Emerton in for the shot and the Australian beat Sullivan at his near post with a powerful drive. Leeds had it all to do to get back in the tie but they would persist with just the one man upfront.
Gylfi Einarsson went in the referee's notebook on 69 minutes after whacking Robbie Savage across the shins, something the fiery Welshman did not take kindly to.
It can't have happened too often before, but Blackburn Rovers fans found themselves applauding the first Leeds United substitution, although it was one of their own, Jonathan Douglas, who came on to replace Sean Gregan. The on-loan midfielder had been given permission to play against his parent club but had not been fit enough to start the game.
Shortly after another change was made with Eddie Lewis coming on for Danny Pugh.
Blackburn gave themselves a cushion with a second goal with less than quarter of an hour remaining.
Sullivan will be disappointed not to have got more of a hand on the ball as he got down low to try and stop Bellamy's cross from reaching Dickov at the back post, who was left with a simple tap-in into an empty net.
Leeds made their final change straight after the goal, Rob Hulse replacing Robbie Blake and they switched to 4-4-2, alas it appeared to be too late.United's slim hopes of a comeback were dented when Gylfi Einarsson was sent off with five minutes remaining.
It was a straight red card for the Icelandic international following a lunging two footed challenge on Robbie Savage - the player he had earlier been booked for fouling.
Insult was added to injury when Blackburn made it 3-0 shortly afterwards. Substitute Matt Jansen played a simple pass through to Lucas Neill and he clipped it past Sullivan from close range to wrap up a miserable evening for Leeds. Still, the league is the be all and end all this season.