DANNY BATTH’S LAST-MINUTE equaliser clinched Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Elland Road and denied Leeds a 10th straight home win.
Pascal Struijk’s late penalty appeared to have snatched Leeds all three points in their bid to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table, but Batth struck for Rovers in the 90th minute.
Leeds poured forward in pursuit of a winner during 10 minutes of time added on, but John Eustace’s play-off-chasing visitors held firm for a deserved point.
Daniel Farke’s side have been dominant at Elland Road this season and had taken maximum points from their previous three festive fixtures, but they failed to spark against Rovers.
Leeds were comfortably held at bay in the first half, during which neither side created any chances barring Struijk’s header, which was easily gathered by Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.
The home side stepped it up shortly before the interval, but a well-drilled Blackburn, whose 1-0 win at Elland Road last season helped put the skids on Leeds’ automatic promotion push, held firm.
Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi was withdrawn through injury in the 38th minute and replaced by Harry Leonard, while Leeds defender Sam Byram made way for Max Wober during the break.
Leeds were forced into a further change soon after the restart when Jaydon bogle limped out of the action and Ethan Ampadu stepped off the bench.
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The break in play while Bogle was receiving treatment typified the stop-start nature of the game, which was delayed again soon after when Struijk needed treatment for a blow to the head.
Home fans did their best to lift their side just past the hour-mark and they responded via Manor Solomon’s low cross, which evaded Dan James at the far post.
Leeds boss Farke sent on Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph for Solomon, Joel Piroe and Joe Rothwell with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to force a breakthrough.
Brenden Aaronson’s curling effort flew narrowly over and Gnonto volleyed wide before referee Oliver Langford awarded Leeds an 88th-minmute penalty after Dominic Hyam was deemed to have tripped Joseph.
Struijk coolly converted, but as Leeds appeared set to extend their lead at the top of the table, Batth fired home a low equaliser from six yards after the home side had failed to clear a corner.
Leeds substitute Wober’s volley was brilliantly saved by Pears as dogged Blackburn held on in an extended period of added time.
Wilson Isidor (file photo). Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Later, Wilson Isidor fired Sunderland right back into the race for automatic promotion from the Championship after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over third-placed Sheffield United.
The on-loan Zenit St Petersburg frontman’s 35th-minute strike – his seventh goal of the season – proved decisive for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light after Luke O’Nien’s own goal had cancelled out Eliezer Mayenda’s opener.
However, the Blades were left kicking themselves after Kieffer Moore had earlier seen his penalty saved by Anthony Patterson on a day when top two Leeds and Burnley could only draw, allowing Sunderland to close to within two points of both the second-placed Clarets and Chris Wilder’s men.
The home side mustered the first attempt on goal with Michael Cooper saving well from Isidor at his near post after Patrick Roberts and Trai Hume had combined down the right with nine minutes gone, and the keeper repeated the feat within seconds to deny Mayenda.
However, the visitors should have gone ahead in the 14th minute after referee Matt Donohue awarded a penalty for O’Nien’s tug on Moore as the hosts defended a Gustavo Hamer free-kick, only for Patterson to block the Wales international striker’s spot-kick with his legs.
The Sunderland keeper was very nearly caught in possession as he was closed down by Rhian Brewster inside his six-yard box, but it was Jack Robinson’s error at the other end seconds later which allowed Mayenda to race away and beat Cooper to give his side a 27th-minute lead.
Adil Aouchiche might have doubled their advantage on the half-hour had he produced a finish worthy of Mayenda’s run and pass as they staged a rapid counter-attack, and Sunderland were made to pay within two minutes when, having forced a near-post save from Patterson with an audacious attempt, Hamer drilled in a cross which O’Nien could only head into his own net.
In the event, the visitors were level for only three minutes as Isidor collected Mayenda’s pass and out-stripped defender Anel Ahmedhodzic before firing across the keeper and inside the far post.
Brewster shot wastefully wide after being set up by substitute Harrison Burrows and Callum O’Hare with 62 minutes gone, but Mayenda also failed to make the most of a glorious opening at the other end as the game remained on a knife-edge.
Jobe Bellingham blazed over and Cooper saved well from Mayenda with Sunderland looking to cement victory, but Patterson made a fine stop to prevent Blades substitute Andre Brooks from snatching a point amid a late flurry.
Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute for Sunderland.
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Leeds’ winning home run ended by Blackburn at the death, Sunderland close on top three
LAST UPDATE | 1 Jan
DANNY BATTH’S LAST-MINUTE equaliser clinched Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Elland Road and denied Leeds a 10th straight home win.
Pascal Struijk’s late penalty appeared to have snatched Leeds all three points in their bid to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table, but Batth struck for Rovers in the 90th minute.
Leeds poured forward in pursuit of a winner during 10 minutes of time added on, but John Eustace’s play-off-chasing visitors held firm for a deserved point.
Daniel Farke’s side have been dominant at Elland Road this season and had taken maximum points from their previous three festive fixtures, but they failed to spark against Rovers.
Leeds were comfortably held at bay in the first half, during which neither side created any chances barring Struijk’s header, which was easily gathered by Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.
The home side stepped it up shortly before the interval, but a well-drilled Blackburn, whose 1-0 win at Elland Road last season helped put the skids on Leeds’ automatic promotion push, held firm.
Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi was withdrawn through injury in the 38th minute and replaced by Harry Leonard, while Leeds defender Sam Byram made way for Max Wober during the break.
Leeds were forced into a further change soon after the restart when Jaydon bogle limped out of the action and Ethan Ampadu stepped off the bench.
The break in play while Bogle was receiving treatment typified the stop-start nature of the game, which was delayed again soon after when Struijk needed treatment for a blow to the head.
Home fans did their best to lift their side just past the hour-mark and they responded via Manor Solomon’s low cross, which evaded Dan James at the far post.
Leeds boss Farke sent on Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph for Solomon, Joel Piroe and Joe Rothwell with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to force a breakthrough.
Brenden Aaronson’s curling effort flew narrowly over and Gnonto volleyed wide before referee Oliver Langford awarded Leeds an 88th-minmute penalty after Dominic Hyam was deemed to have tripped Joseph.
Struijk coolly converted, but as Leeds appeared set to extend their lead at the top of the table, Batth fired home a low equaliser from six yards after the home side had failed to clear a corner.
Leeds substitute Wober’s volley was brilliantly saved by Pears as dogged Blackburn held on in an extended period of added time.
Later, Wilson Isidor fired Sunderland right back into the race for automatic promotion from the Championship after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over third-placed Sheffield United.
The on-loan Zenit St Petersburg frontman’s 35th-minute strike – his seventh goal of the season – proved decisive for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light after Luke O’Nien’s own goal had cancelled out Eliezer Mayenda’s opener.
However, the Blades were left kicking themselves after Kieffer Moore had earlier seen his penalty saved by Anthony Patterson on a day when top two Leeds and Burnley could only draw, allowing Sunderland to close to within two points of both the second-placed Clarets and Chris Wilder’s men.
The home side mustered the first attempt on goal with Michael Cooper saving well from Isidor at his near post after Patrick Roberts and Trai Hume had combined down the right with nine minutes gone, and the keeper repeated the feat within seconds to deny Mayenda.
However, the visitors should have gone ahead in the 14th minute after referee Matt Donohue awarded a penalty for O’Nien’s tug on Moore as the hosts defended a Gustavo Hamer free-kick, only for Patterson to block the Wales international striker’s spot-kick with his legs.
The Sunderland keeper was very nearly caught in possession as he was closed down by Rhian Brewster inside his six-yard box, but it was Jack Robinson’s error at the other end seconds later which allowed Mayenda to race away and beat Cooper to give his side a 27th-minute lead.
Adil Aouchiche might have doubled their advantage on the half-hour had he produced a finish worthy of Mayenda’s run and pass as they staged a rapid counter-attack, and Sunderland were made to pay within two minutes when, having forced a near-post save from Patterson with an audacious attempt, Hamer drilled in a cross which O’Nien could only head into his own net.
In the event, the visitors were level for only three minutes as Isidor collected Mayenda’s pass and out-stripped defender Anel Ahmedhodzic before firing across the keeper and inside the far post.
Brewster shot wastefully wide after being set up by substitute Harrison Burrows and Callum O’Hare with 62 minutes gone, but Mayenda also failed to make the most of a glorious opening at the other end as the game remained on a knife-edge.
Jobe Bellingham blazed over and Cooper saved well from Mayenda with Sunderland looking to cement victory, but Patterson made a fine stop to prevent Blades substitute Andre Brooks from snatching a point amid a late flurry.
Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute for Sunderland.
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