Blackburn's Dunn rolls back the years to down Leeds
Telegraph 30/11/13By Steven Sutcliffe, at Ewood Park
A Tommy Spurr header proved the difference as Blackburn Rovers deservedly edged this War of the Roses clash against Leeds United. Spurr, ironically born in Leeds and who has plied his trade exclusively in his home county until this season (at Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers), headed home David Dunn’s corner in first-half injury time to move Gary Bowyer’s team within four points of the top six and condemn Brian McDermott’s men to their first defeat for a month.
It might have been different for the visitors if Danny Pugh had been able to finish after Ross McCormack’s deft touch had allowed him to ghost in behind the home defence but his right-footed effort was brilliantly saved by Jake Kean in the 33rd minute, much to McDermott’s disappointment.
“It was a chance and we worked it well – if that goes in it’s a different game,” McDermott said.
“The first goal today proved to be so important. A draw would’ve been about right and I think if we’d have scored in the first-half we’d have won the game but we want to bounce back with home games against Wigan and Watford coming up. We look forward to getting back to Elland Road,” added McDermott whose side have won their last four encounters on home soil.
While McDermott was miffed by his team’s defeat the promise of new investors announced via the club’s website on Saturday morning is likely to allow him to strengthen his squad come January which will be crucial to their long term hopes of reclaiming their place in the Premier League.
Financial difficulties and the circumstances of Blackburn’s relegation from the top flight in 2012 have been well documented but once Spurr scored they rarely looked like surrendering their advantage.
David Dunn rolled back the years for just over an hour showing his Premier League quality and twice went close to scoring. His powerful 4th minute drive was destined for the bottom corner before Paddy Kenny intervened.
Shortly after the interval he darted through the visitors defence, leaving Lithuanian defender Marius Zaliukas for dead but just failed to collect the ball with Kenny to beat.
Dunn who is set to celebrate his 34th birthday next this month was withdrawn in the 62nd minute and Josh King’s coruscating volley almost doubled Rovers advantage moments later, with Kenny at full stretch to stop it from finding the top corner.
Gary Bowyer , the Blackburn manager, offered a glowing assessment of his team’s efforts though he did admit that Kean’s save had been crucial: “The goalie (Kean) deserves an enormous amount of credit for an outstanding save in the first-half but I thought we played some good stuff today,” Bowyer said.
“David Dunn showed flashes of magnificent skill and if he’d finished off his run we’d have been talking about that for a long time, he gave us absolutely everything again but everyone played their part.”