Fowler double sinks Rovers

Fowler slips his first goal past Brad Friedel

Leeds 3-1 Blackburn

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Two first-half goals in quick succession from Robbie Fowler sparked Leeds to a much-needed win over Blackburn.

The ex-Liverpool striker struck twice in three minutes on Sunday to help Leeds close the gap on Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot.

Fowler's brace left his former manager Graeme Souness looking nervously over his shoulder at the other end of the table.

That's as weak as we have been in the two years I have been at this club

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness

Blackburn scored early in the second half through Matt Jansen to give themselves hope, but a late strike from Harry Kewell secured the points for Leeds.

Blackburn did not do their own cause any favours by gifting Fowler his first goal after just five minutes.

Fowler latched on to Tugay's underpowered headed pass to fellow Turkish international Hakan Unsal and ran on to slip his shot under Brad Friedel.

Nigel Martyn denied Blackburn an instant riposte, dropping sharply to his right to palm away David Dunn's powerful 20-yard shot.

But it was Leeds who doubled their lead two minutes later.

Fowler appeared to be offside as Alan Smith sprinted on to a through ball on the left flank.

But the former Liverpool striker showed all his predatory instincts to get in front of Henning Berg and convert Smith's early cross with the crispest of finishes.

Fowler nips in front of Henning Berg to stab home his second goal

Blackburn carefully pieced their game together and Lucas Neill got forward to cross dangerously from the right, but Jordi was unable to make forceful contact.

Fowler's pass on 30 minutes gave Harry Kewell a chance to hammer in a shot which Friedel positioned himself well to save.

Blackburn suffered another blow on 33 minutes when the influential Dunn limped off to be replaced by Keith Gillespie.

But the former Manchester United winger tested Martyn after tricking his way past Ian Harte.

With Andy Cole beginning a three-match suspension, Blackburn's goal threat was focused on top scorer Matt Jansen.

We were the better team but made hard work of getting the three points

Leeds manager David O'Leary

And three minutes into the second-half, he delivered with a carbon-copy of Fowler's first, collecting the ball from Woodgate's error and running clear to beat Martyn.

Half-time substitute Mark Hughes probed dangerously from midfield as Blackburn searched for an equaliser.

But Kewell settled Leeds' nerves with a well-taken third goal on 70 minutes.

Substitute Robbie Keane's sweeping pass picked Kewell out and the Australian drilled an accurate shot across Freidel.

---

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Woodgate, Harte, Smith (Keane 65), Dacourt (Bakke 72), Batty, Kewell (Wilcox 82), Fowler, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kelly.

Booked: Batty, Mills.

Goals: Fowler 5, 8, Kewell 71.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Berg, Johansson, Unsal, Dunn (Gillespie 34), Tugay (Hughes 45), Flitcroft, Duff, Yordi, Jansen, Gillespie (Hignett 84).

Subs Not Used: Miller, Taylor.

Booked: Hughes.

Goals: Jansen 49.

Attendance: 39,857

Referee: Graham Poll (Tring).