Bellamy rouses Rovers as Leeds left for dead

Blackburn 3 Leeds 0

With Rovers struggling to turn their territorial dominance into tangible reward, Bellamy came off the bench and took eight minutes to rectify the situation, providing the pass which set up Brett Emerton for the opener.

Bellamy was also responsible for Paul Dickov’s match-sealing strike 15 minutes from time

And just for good measure, he also ensured Lucas Neill’s lung-busting late run into the box was rewarded with an inch-perfect pass that allowed the full-back to prod home number three.

The victory was fully merited against a promotion-chasing Leeds outfit who never looked like recording a shock and who were reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Gylfi Einarsson was shown a straight red card for a thudding late challenge on Robbie Savage.

Despite dominating the opening period, on far too many occasions the hosts lost their attacking impetus by drilling crosses into the area which Leeds’ defence were generally able to deal with in some degree of comfort.

Dickov drilled a first-time effort straight into Neil Sullivan’s midriff midway through the half and then Andy Todd nodded tamely wide when Pedersen picked him out with a far-post corner. Just before that effort, Savage had tested Sullivan’s agility with a well-struck free-kick that forced the Leeds goalkeeper to tip over.

Paul Butler’s personal duel with Kuqi was a contest to savour. Blackburn’s muscular forward ran himself into the ground but he was on borrowed time once he ignored the pleas for a pass from Dickov and Pedersen and wasted a three-on-two counter attack by allowing Dan Harding to rob him.

And, once he had nodded Tugay’s floated cross wide it was little surprise Hughes made an immediate call for Bellamy.

The Welshman proved the wisdom of the move almost immediately by taking Pedersen’s square ball, then releasing Emerton with a delicate pass inside Harding.

Emerton still had plenty to do but aided by a deflection off Matthew Kilgallon, the Australian beat Sullivan at his near post.

Then the Yorkshiremen did not have the pace to match Bellamy’s left-wing run that ended with a chance Dickov could not miss.

And then, once Einarsson had departed in disgrace, Bellamy played Neill in to wrap up an easy win.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Khizanishvili (Mokoena 68), Gray, Emerton, Savage, Tugay, Pedersen, Kuqi (Bellamy 53), Dickov (Jansen 78).

LEEDS: Sullivan, Richardson, Butler, Kilgallon, Harding, Moore, Einarsson, Gregan (Douglas 70), Pugh (Lewis 72), Healy, Blake (Hulse 77). Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)