CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Blackburn v Leeds 04/09/96 7.45

Blackburn               (0) 0 Leeds                   (1) 1 FT
                              Harte 40

Ian Harte crowned a week to remember with the goal that sent Leeds' army of fans marching back across the Pennines with the victory spoils and plunged Blackburn into a fresh early-season crisis.

The Republic of Ireland full back celebrated his 19th birthday only five days ago and was the toast of the Emarald Isle at the weekend when he scored in the 5-0 World Cup demolition of Liechtenstein.

And his first half strike at Ewood Park tonight was enough to maintain Leeds' solid start to the campaign and kill the optimism felt by Rovers that their battling Old Trafford draw with Manchester United 10 days ago would be the catalyst for a surge up the table.

Ray Harford's troops have taken only one point from their first four matches and looked desperately short of firepower as the Alan Shearer jibes were again voiced by their opponents' supporters.

Both teams showed a refreshing willingness to attack in the opening stages and Rovers almost drew first blood twice inside the first five minutes thanks to the pace and creativity of Georgios Donis.

First the Greek winger crossed from the right only to see Gary Kelly's flying header foil Graham Fenton as he raced into the box, then another powerful run had Leeds' defence back-pedalling only for goalkeeper Nigel Martyn to snatch his through-ball off Paul Warhurst's toes.

Leeds' neat approach play also took the eye, but it was not until the 17th minute they threatened when Harte's sweetly struck free kick was pawed behind by Tim Flowers as it arrowed towards the top corner.

Fenton responded with a snap-shot expertly gathered by Martyn but Leeds were starting to show the greater menace, with David Wetherall bringing a fine stop from Flowers with a bullet header from Lee Sharpe's corner.

Rovers' task was not helped when the injury jinx that has blighted Warhurst's Ewood Park career struck again, and he limped off in the 40th minute to be replaced by Garry Flitcroft.

Flitcroft has also failed to shine since his £3.2million move from Manchester City towards the back-end of last season, and his first contribution to the action handed Leeds the initiative.

The former England Under-21 midfielder clattered into Mark Ford within seconds of his introduction and Sharpe's free kick from the right was met by Harte, whose textbook downward header at the far post gave Flowers no hope.

Rovers ended the first half feeling even more aggrieved when Stuart Ripley's cross seemed to strike Kelly's arm but referee Roger Dilkes waved away the home side's penalty claims.

Blackburn's early second half thrusts were easily repelled by Leeds' increasingly massed ranks, although the visitors looked dangerous on the counter and should have doubled their advantage within eight minutes of the restart.

Rod Wallace's rapid break put Sharpe away down the left, but the man whose goal gave the Yorkshiremen victory over Wimbledon in their last outing nine days ago sliced wildly wide with unmarked Ian Rush screaming for a cross in the middle.

Leeds were almost made to pay when Flitcroft threw himself full length to meet another Donis cross only to see his header thud against the crossbar and bounce away to safety.

But generally the home side were finding it increasingly difficult to support lone striker Fenton, and Leeds came through the pressure to start posing more threats of their own.

Carlton Palmer, abandoning his anchor role in midfield, slammed a long-range effort just over the angle, while Wallace sliced wastefully wide with time and space to measure his shot from a much closer distance.

Rovers boss Harford's last throw of the dice saw him throw Ian Pearce into the fray for Flitcroft, but the defender-cum-striker was unable to find a way through.