Stead battles for the ball with Duberry

ROVERS SLIPPED deeper and deeper into relegation trouble as Leeds emerged victorious in a blood and thunder battle at Ewood Park.

The visitors got their two goals at the start and at the end of the game through Steven Caldwell and Mark Viduka and even though Craig Short scored a desperately late consolation it was not enough to stop Rovers sliding to their 10th home defeat of the season.

Graeme Souness had received a welcome boost before kick-off with centre-back Craig Short passing a fitness test and able to take his place in the starting line-up. Joining him was Lorenzo Amoruso, back in the first eleven for the first time since October after injury.

The good news was tempered by Andy Todd's late withdrawal from the substitute's bench, Jon Douglas taking his place. Meanwhile, Lucas Neill, Steven Reid and Andy Cole all started in place of Markus Babbel, Martin Andresen and Paul Gallagher.

Leeds United kept the same side that secured an important victory over relegation rivals Leicester City last Monday.

And they were handed the perfect start thanks to slack Rovers defending, the story of the Ewood season, taking the lead with just 84 seconds on the clock.

After Tugay conceded a needless corner, Jermaine Pennant's short ball found Gary Kelly in oceans of space in which to send over a cross. His delivery picked out Caldwell at the back post whose downward header beat Brad Friedel into the corner.

Rovers should have been given the perfect opportunity to level the scoring only a minute later as Michael Duberry wrestled Jonathan Stead to the ground in the area but Steve Dunn refused to award Rovers their first penalty of the season.

The damage could have got worse on nine minutes as Paul Robinson's long clearance bounced off Amoruso and into the path of Alan Smith. The Leeds forward unleashed a terrific half-volley shot but Friedel reacted tremendously to tip over.

Rovers first shot came from the left foot of Neill from 20 yards but Robinson easily claimed.

Tugay tried to prompt something, releasing Cole down the right channel but he was forced wide and the resultant cross was well grasped by Friedel.

Short put a weak header well wide from Brett Emerton's corner but in truth clearcut Rovers chances were far from forthcoming. Indeed, it seemed inevitable Ian Harte would score from a dangerous free kick in the 26th minute but fortunately he fired wide.

When Stead finally managed to get some space in behind the physical Duberry he totally misjudged his attempted lob, putting high into the Darwen End behind the goal.

He went closer on 28 minutes, a hooked volley after a Cole flick on that dropped safely into the arms of Robinson.

Seth Johnson was then inches away from making it 2-0, benefiting from a fortunate deflection off Short and shooting narrowly past the post.

The big Rovers defender did his utmost to stir his teammates into action, rampaging from his centre-half position deep into Leeds territory only to eventually be stopped by Duberry.

However, it was the visitors who were looking more likely as the half came to a close, Gary Kelly firing a great effort from 30 yards a foot over the bar.

Souness tried to change matters at the break, throwing Paul Gallagher into the fray in place of the ineffective Steven Reid but the action was still swinging from end to end with alarming regularity.

Stead tried to make space for himself on 48 minutes, cutting a low shot into the arms of Robinson before the unfortunate Johnson was carried off on a stretcher following an accidental collision with Amoruso.

Then on the hour mark, Smith wreaked havoc with a terrific run down the middle before finally laying to James Milner eight yards out. The youngster should have scored but was very unlucky to see his fierce drive crash back off the underside of the bar.

At the other end, Cole sparked into life, almost getting on the end of Emerton's cross before Robinson grabbed gratefully and then seeing the England keeper deny him once more as he looked to steer in Tugay's cross.

However, Viduka really should have secured the points on 65 minutes as he shrugged off the otherwise impressive Amoruso and ran clear on goal. But, as Friedel advanced the Australian dragged his left shot past the far post.

Rovers should have taken advantage of the reprieve but even the introduction of Jansen for Stead failed to inject any life as Duberry controlled the aerial battle.

Emerton looked to pick out Gallagher at the far post with a hopeful ball on 76 minutes but his cross was just in front of the sliding youngster.

The game then swung from end to end in two crucial minutes in both of these sides seasons.

First, with Amoruso now playing as an auxiliary striker, his presence caused problems in the box, the ball broke for Cole but Robinson made an excellent stop to keep out his venomous shot.

Leeds immediately raced upfield through the speedy Pennant who got to the byline and cut back a low cross. Smith missed with his attempted flick but it didn't matter as Viduka followed up to ram home.

In a last-gasp push from Rovers, first Flitcroft was denied by a superb Duberry block in front of goal and then Short powered a header past Robinson from Gallagher's free kick but it was too little, too late.

Make no mistake Rovers are very much in the thick of this relegation battle and with time running out, three wins have to come quickly, starting with Fulham on Monday.

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Short, Amoruso, Gray, Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Reid (Gallagher 46), Cole, Stead (Jansen 68). Subs not used: Enckelman, Douglas, Andresen.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Viduka, Pennant, Caldwell, Smith (McPhail 90), Seth Johnson (Bakke 55), Matteo, Duberry, Milner. Subs not used: Carson, Radebe, Simon Johnson.

Monday's Rovers world will bring you all the reaction from todau's game