Leeds 0-1 Blackburn: Sammie Szmodics scores the winner as Rovers secure a stunning Elland Road victory

Sammie Szmodics' winning goal was his 24th goal of the season in the championship

Sammie Szmodics' late goal gave relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers a surprise win, while Leeds United again failed to capitalize on their chance of top spot in the Championship.

It was Szmodics' 30th goal in a remarkable season for the Republic of Ireland international – and handed Leeds their first home defeat of the season.

Keeper Aynsley Pears' long shot was passed on by Sam Gallagher to Tyrhys Dolan, whose excellent pass put Szmodics through.

Szmodics coolly slotted past goalkeeper Illan Meslier to dazzle the Elland Road crowd and give Rovers a six-point lead over the bottom three before kick-off at 3pm BST.

For the second time in a matter of days, leaders Leicester's defeat gave both Leeds and Ipswich chances to move to the top.

Leeds failed to capitalize on this chance in midweek and only managed one shot on target a goalless draw at home to Sunderland on Tuesday and Ipswich also drew 0-0 at home to Watford 24 hours later.

However, the Suffolk side will go top if they pick up at least a point at home to Middlesbrough later on Saturday.

After Leicester's 1-0 defeat at Plymouth on Friday evening, Leeds were determined not to mess up again.

But Blackburn also wanted to make amends, was beaten 0-5 at Bristol City They defended well and frustrated the roaring home crowd.

Pears held off first-half goals from Willy Gnonto and Connor Roberts, while Ilia Gruev wasted a good chance for Leeds when he headed past the near post after good work from Crysencio Summerville on the left.

The visitors liked to defend in numbers and only came into a counterattack five minutes before half-time.

Szmodics pounced on Summerville's poorly struck pass to Roberts and shot toward the left edge of the penalty area before seeing Meslier parry his low shot.

Although Leeds were back in front after the break and Gnonto shot just wide, they survived two major scares in the second half.

After Meslier gave the ball away with an unfortunate throw, Joe Rankin-Costello shot just wide of the goal.

And a miraculous defensive effort from Roberts – again after Leeds had given the ball away – then prevented a certain goal.

Szmodics, who was on the right side of the penalty area, focused on Dolan, but he was prevented from an easy close-range finish as Roberts somehow managed to deflect the ball away from him.

Leeds went close three times before Szmodics scored the winner: Pears denied Junior Firpo, Gnonto simply failed to reach Daniel James' shot at the far post and Patrick Bamford headed James' cross over the bar.

While Daniel Farke's side desperately searched for an equaliser, they unsuccessfully called for a penalty when Bamford went down in the penalty area in the final moments and a member of Leeds' coaching staff was shown a red card for his angry reaction in the technical area to the penalty spot -Kick is not given.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke told ` Radio Leeds:

“When you play against a team like Blackburn with a player like Szmodics, he showed the quality that we didn't show today and he just needed a chance to score.”

“So many balls went through the penalty area, but you also have to show quality to put the ball in the net.”

“If you don’t score a goal, you have a much higher risk. There is also a risk that the opponent will have a moment and can score. This is quite disappointing and frustrating for us.”

“We didn’t put the ball in the net. If you don’t score a goal, you can’t win the game.”

“If we don’t score, it’s up to me to find solutions. I have to work with them so that we can create more chances in the next game.”

Blackburn boss John Eustace told ` Radio Lancashire:

“I'm very proud. The commitment that the boys have put in for me since I took office has been outstanding.”

“Without the ball we had a game plan. We knew they would take more risks as the game went on and it was a fantastic performance to score the goal.”

“We have a good team. Wednesday.” [losing 5-0 to Bristol City] was a small slip-up. It's obvious that we're difficult to play against.

“It is important that we continue to work hard and stick together. We have three big games ahead of us and we know we still need points.”

“The only way to success is if you stick together. We had a really tough time on Wednesday, but the solidarity we showed – everyone thought we were going to come here and lose – was great.”

Lineups

Leeds

formation 4-2-3-1

1Meslier

33Roberts14round4Ampadu3Firpo

22Gray44Gruev

29Gnonto24Rutter10Summerville

7Piroe

• 1Meslier
• 33RobertsReplaced byByramat 67'protocol
• 14round
• 4Ampadu
• 3FirpoReplaced byAnthonyat 89'protocol
• 22Gray
• 44GruevReplaced byBamfordat 68'protocol
• 29GnontoReplaced byJosephat 80'protocolBooked for 90 minutes
• 24RutterReplaced byJamesat 68'protocol
• 10Summerville
• 7Piroe

Substitute

• 6cooper
• 8thCamara
• 9Bamford
• 12Anthony
• 20James
• 25Byram
• 28Darlow
• 30Gelhardt
• 49Joseph

Blackburn

formation 3-4-2-1

1Pears

17Fuhrman5Hyam16S. Wharton

2Britain11Rankin Costello6Tronstad3Pickering

10Dolan8thSmodics

9Gallagher

• 1PearsBooked for 85 minutes
• 17FuhrmanBooked for 28 minutes
• 5Hyam
• 16S. WhartonReplaced byMcFadzeanat 45'protocol
• 2Britain
• 11Rankin Costello
• 6TronstadBooked for 47 minutes
• 3Pickering
• 10DolanBooked for 42 minutesReplaced byChrisat 84'protocol
• 8thSmodicsReplaced byTelalovicat 90+6'protocol
• 9Gallagher

Substitute

• 12Wahlstedt
• 14Koumetio
• 18When
• 21Buckley
• 22Gilsenan
• 30Garrett
• 33Telalovic
• 45Chris
• 55McFadzean

Referee: James Bell

Number of visitors: 36,518

Live text

1. The match ends: Leeds United 0, Blackburn Rovers 1.

2. The second half ends, Leeds United 0, Blackburn Rovers 1.

3. Attempt blocked. Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.

4. Mateo Joseph (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.

5. Corner, Leeds United. Goal conceded by Semir Telalovic.

6. Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Semir Telalovic replaces Sammie Szmodics.

7. Attempt blocked. Sam Byram (Leeds United)'s right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area is blocked.

8. Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Foul by Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers).

10. Substitution Leeds United. Jaidon Anthony replaces Junior Firpo.

11. Attempt blocked. Joël Piroe (Leeds United)'s left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Supported by Ethan Ampadu.

12. Foul by Junior Firpo (Leeds United).

13. Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

14. Aynsley Pears (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.

15. Attempt failed. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) tries a shot too high from the center of the box. Assisted by Junior Firpo with a cross.

16. Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Ben Chrisene replaces Tyrhys Dolan.

17. Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United)'s header from the center of the penalty area is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Junior Firpo with a cross.

18. Goal! Leeds United 0, Blackburn Rovers 1. Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) hits with his right foot from the center of the penalty area to the center of the goal. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan with a through ball.

19. Substitution Leeds United. Mateo Joseph replaces Wilfried Gnonto.

20. Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Hayden Carter.