Marco Silvestri made a first Elland Road appearance of the season as a sixth goal of the campaign from second-half substitute Chris Wood with just six minutes of normal time remaining saw Leeds United safely through into the fourth round of the EFL Cup, in front of a meagre crowd of 8,488 fans inside Elland Road .

After back-to-back victories in the Championship, a rotated Leeds side sought a third successive win in all competitions ahead of Saturday's crucial crunch clash with Ipswich at Elland Road. A win was just what the Whites secured; Chris Wood's sixth goal of the season on 84 minutes proving to be the decisive moment. A much changed Blackburn outfit could not find a way past Marco Silvestri in the Leeds goal, and so the hosts secured progression to the fourth round after a gritty game overall.

Wood, a second-half substitute for Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson, netted the winner in a somewhat scrappy fashion, nodding the ball home from point-blank range despite the best attempts of David Raya to keep the ball out of the Blackburn net. The goal was Wood's sixth in ten appearances, a respectable return from the New Zealander thus far. Leeds will now participate in Wednesday's fourth round draw, with fans eagerly anticipating their new opponents in the now 56-year-old cup competition. Potential opponents include Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool, and should such a tie come about, there'd most certainly be much fanfare.

Team Lineups

Garry Monk opted to rest Pontus Jansson and Hadi Sacko, with the United head coach handing opportunities to sporadic first-team players such as Lewie Coyle and Matt Grimes. Eunan O'Kane and Ronaldo Vieira both retained their spots in midfield.

Leeds United: Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Bartley, Taylor, Vieira (Hernandez 58), O'Kane, Phillips, Mowatt (Grimes 82), Roofe, Antonsson (Wood 72).

Unused Substitutes: Green, Ayling, Denton, Dallas.

Meanwhile, Blackburn boss Owen Coyle also opted to make a plethora of changes to his lineup with Martin Samuelsen making his first start for the club and Elliot Bennett making a rare appearance.

Blackburn Rovers: Raya, Lenihan, Lowe, Bennett, Wharton (Nyambe 8), Hendrie, Akpan, Byrne, Feeney, Samuelsen (Mahoney 62), Gallagher (Emnes 62).

Unused Substitutes: Steele, Guthrie, Conway, Marshall.

First-Half

The home side got proceedings underway, and the game's first shot on goal would come shortly after the game's beginning; Lewie Coyle forcing a marvellous save from David Raya with a venomous half-volley from range with barely a minute played. The resulting corner was then cleared.

Five minutes later, the small contingent of travelling Blackburn fans thought they'd opened the scoring with just six minutes played. Elliot Bennett's cross to the back-post was headed into the side netting by Liam Feeney. The visiting supporters began to cheer, perhaps half-heartedly, before their foolish mistake was made known to them by the home crowd, who understandably responded with derisory jeers.

The visitors were then forced into an early substitution two minutes later when youngster Scott Wharton limped off with injury and was replaced with Ryan Nyambe.

Three minutes later and the game saw its first caution, with rovers midfielder Hope Akpan shown the yellow card by referee Darren Deadman for a foul on Eunan O'Kane. Rovers would then come close to an opener five minutes later when Hendrie fired just wide from the edge of the area.

A second booking of the game was then issued on 29 minutes to Kalvin Phillips, who had his name taken after a foul on the visitor's Sam Gallagher. The resulting free-kick was delivered in by Bennett, but United held firm and managed to clear.

The half's last action of note game just on the verge of half-time when Blackburn's Byrne called Silvestri into a full-stretch save, the Italian parrying away an effort from the edge of the area that looked to be destined for the top corner.

HT - Leeds United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers

To be truthful, it was dour. Both teams huffed and puffed nut quality play was a rarity. Byrne came closest to opening the scoring just on the stroke of half-time but neither side really ever looked like scoring in a truly tedious half.

Second Half

As Leeds had kicked off the first-half, it was the prerogative of Blackburn to get the second-half underway. It would be Leeds though, who would spring into attacking action first, with Kemar Roofe curling a 20-yard effort narrowly wide of the post with barely a minute of second-half football played.

The young, exotically named Ronaldo Vieira had retained his place in the Leeds midfield after an impressive showing away to Cardiff at the weekend, but the man from Guinea Bissau was forced off with injury on 58 minutes. Pablo Hernandez, scorer of United's second goal in the 2-0 win against the Bluebirds, came on in his place.

Four minutes later, and Blackburn decided to roll the dice with a double change, using both of their remaining permitted substitutions after Wharton limped off for Nyambe in the first period. Off went Gallagher and Samuelsen, and on came Marvin Emnes and Connor Mahoney, The former incidentally scored in this very fixture last week, but he would not have the same impact this time around...

The first real opportunity of the second-half fell to Leeds on 68 minutes when a loose ball fell to Ireland international O'Kane, whose volleyed effort would be in vain; blocked by a Blackburn barrier of players. The away side would then go close a minute later, when substitute Emnes found himself one-on-one with Silvestri. The Italian parried the Dutchman's effort before hastily getting to his feet to block Feeney's follow-up which would have otherwise put Owen Coyle's side in front.

In a bid to penetrate a youthful visiting defence, Marcus Antonsson was hauled off for Chris Wood by head coach Garry Monk as Leeds made a straight swap in attack with 71 minutes on the clock. A minute after the change Kemar Roofe's saw a downward header from close range held by Raya in the Blackburn goal, before Silvestri was forced into a fine reflex save before Leeds had another surge forward that culminated in a Pablo Hernandez shot that flew over the bar.

Leeds opted to make their final substitution on 82 minutes with Swansea loanee Matt Grimes replacing the rather ineffective Alex Mowatt. Just two minutes later, Leeds were in the lead after the match looked certain to be heading to extra-time. Chris Wood bundling home from point-blank range after Kemar Roofe inadvertently sent the ball his way with a mishit shot to shatter Blackburn hearts and send a rather sparsely populated Elland Road into delirium.

Leeds then went in for the kill straight after the restart. Kemar Roofe saw a well-hit curling effort finely pushed away by a fully extended Raya to keep any faint hopes of a visiting comeback alive. Blackburn though, could ultimately not conjure up an equaliser and Leeds secured a third successive victory in all competitions as well as a place in the next round of the cup.

FT - Leeds United 1-0 Blackburn Rovers - Wood (84').

A game high on work-ethic but low on quality. Wood's winner was perhaps slightly fortunate but on the balance of play the hosts were just about worthy of the win. It was an ideal outcome for Garry Monk and Pep Clotet; no injuries, a clean sheet, and another victory ahead of a crunch match with Mick McCarthy's Ipswich on Saturday. Blackburn did have chances of their own but they were wasteful in the final third when their opportunities arose and they now find themselves out of the competition.

Man of The Match

MOTM - Eunan O'Kane, Leeds.

The Irish international was an energetic driving force in a mediocre midfield. His running aided his side when they were tasked with regaining possession of the ball from their opponents, and it would be fair to say that he's made a solid start to life at Leeds since his deadline day move from Bournemouth.

Post-Match Reaction - Leeds assistant Pep Clotet and Blackburn boss Owen Coyle

Leeds United assistant manager Pep Clotet

"We're delighted because it was a hard start to the season.

"We worked very hard. The commitment of the players has always been there and their hard work has paid off with three wins in a row.

"But at the same time we'll keep our feet on the ground because we know how hard it is to win games in the Championship.

"The good thing this team has done is to have a difficult start and get back into it with a lot of confidence and hard work. Whatever setback we find in the future, we know we have the tools to stand up and keep fighting for the club."

Blackburn manager Owen Coyle

"Do we feel aggrieved to be out of the cup? Absolutely, because I think we put enough in to still be in it. But the margins are very fine.

"Given how many changes we made, I thought it was a very good performance.

"We're moving in the right direction, but we knew we would be."

Match Statistics and Facts

Stats - (Leeds/Blackburn)

Possession - 54/46
Shots - 9/8
On Target - 5/3
Corners - 4/6
Fouls - 9/9

Referee - Darren Deadman

Booked - Phillips (Leeds), Akpan, Emnes, Lenihan (Blackburn)

Attendance - 8,488 (463 Blackburn)

Writer's View

A satisfactory result, even if the performance was a far cry from being pretty. I felt that we were good value for the win; Blackburn were far more profligate in the final third than we were, a claim vindicated by the scoreline. Eunan O'Kane and Pablo Hernandez impressed, and it was pleasing to see Chris Wood score once more. Goals will only do him good and it will boost his confidence even further ahead of Saturday's game.

It was a wholly scrappy affair, but the game hardly had an air of excitement about it. Two rusty sides composed mostly of sporadic first-teamers were never going to produce a blockbuster. Football is though, a results business, and on we march into the next round. I'd prefer a home draw, perhaps against Liverpool?

All in all, another positive outcome that gives the team a tad more momentum going into a tough battle against Mick McCarthy's Ipswich. They may not be the most glamorous of sides, but his teams are always well-drilled and full of fight, and we'll have to match their commitment on the day if we are to get a result. Finally, I was somewhat disheartened to see such a low turnout on the night. I feel as though this competition has perhaps lost its appeal, its prestige if you will, due to the manner in which the top clubs treat it. The very words 'League Cup' have seemingly become synonymous with the word boring, and I personally feel as though the 56-year-old competition perhaps deserves a tad more respect. Anyhow, on to Saturday, and it'll be interesting to see how we fare against slightly more skilled opposition.

Photo: Action Images

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