The defences of Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers hung so loose last night that it was a wonder the Elland Road crowd did not see a netfuls of goals after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had given Leeds an early lead. But chances were missed and saves were made as an untidy match struggled to keep a recognisable shape.
Neither club appears likely to win the Premiership this season but at least they have stronger pretensions than most. After all, Leeds were the last club to win the old First Division and Blackburn were the only team to break Manchester United's hold on the Premiership until Arsenal did the Double.
Blackburn needed to get Leeds out of their system, having conceded eight goals against them last season in losing 4-3 at home and 4-0 away. With Kevin Davies, their £7.25 million signing from Southampton, partnering the prolific Chris Sutton up front the potential for goals was certainly there.
Roy Hodgson's team, moreover, made the more positive start with the first inswinging corner from Jason Wilcox causing problems as early as the fourth minute. The chance fell to Sutton but his shot lacked power and Nigel Martyn was not troubled.
So much rested on the shifts of power in midfield where David Hopkin and Alf-Inge Haaland confronted Tim Sherwood and Garry Flitcroft. Once the Leeds pair began to take a grip on the game, Blackburn's defence quickly came under pressure.
Three times between the 12th and 15th minutes Leeds might have gone ahead. Lee Bowyer, quick to seize on a loose ball, saw John Filan tip over his rising shot. Then Clyde Wijnhard, the Dutch replacement for Rod Wallace, had a shot deflected wide by Stephane Henchoz before seeing another skim the bar.
For Leeds the signs were encouraging, for Blackburn ominous, and it was not long before the portents proved correct. After 18 minutes Hasselbaink burst out of a clutch of defenders, exchanged passes with Wijnhard, and drove a low shot through Filan's half-attempt at a save.
The seven-goal extravaganza when the teams met at Ewood Park nearly a year ago had not been notable for efficient defending. Neither side looked safe at the back last night, either, and Blackburn all but drew level midway through the first half when Robert Molenaar sliced a centre from Sutton against his own bar, Callum Davidson driving the rebound into the side-netting.
A clever piece of football by Sutton deserved to bring the scores level on the half-hour. Having laid the ball out to Wilcox on the left, he moved into position for a well-delivered return but found that Davies had the same idea.
Leeds were lucky the two strikers impeded each other and when soon afterwards Davidson and Sebastian Perez, Blackburn's £3 million Frenchman from Bastia, went for the same cross at the far post it seemed a few introductions were called for.
Yet Blackburn were far from out of the game. More intelligent play by Sutton, holding the ball under pressure after meeting Wilcox's cross and then sending in Sherwood to his right, might have brought a goal had the latter not fluffed his shot.
Leeds still looked the more incisive near goal. Seven minutes into the second half a shrewdly weighted pass from Harry Kewell sent Haaland clear and onside, but Filan's alertness in leaving his line and blocked the danger.
Again they had chances to get back into the contest. In the 57th minute a smart header from Perez, after a corner had been half-cleared, caught Martyn off his line and the Leeds goalkeeper did well to tip the ball over. Another corner and Davies, left unmarked in front of goal, merely glanced his header wide.
While Leeds looked the likely winners the narrowness of their lead and the brittleness of their defending demanded more goals. On the hour only Jeff Kenna's lunge to deflect a Hopkin shot wide denied them after Wijnhard headed down Ian Harte's centre.
LEEDS UNITED: Martyn, Hiden, Radebe, Molenaar, Harte, Hopkin, Bowyer, Haaland, Kewell, Hasselbaink, Wijnhard (Sharpe 83). Subs Not Used: Wetherall, Ribeiro, Granville, Beeney. Booked: Harte, Hiden. Goals: Hasselbaink 18.
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Filan, Kenna, Hen choz, Peacock, Davidson, Perez, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Wilcox (Gallacher 78), Davies (Dahlin 78), Sutton. Subs Not Used: McKinlay, Dailly, Fettis. Booked: Henchoz.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
