Blackburn Rovers 1 Leeds United 2: YEP player ratings

Chris Wood challenges Grant Hanley. PIC: Simon Hulme

YEP writer Phil Hay provides his Leeds United player ratings on the back of the 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Do you agree with his choices?

Marco Silvestri

Pulled off a good save from Danny Graham at a time when the match was in the balance. Conducted some useful time-wasting too. 6/10

Gaetano Berardi

It can’t be a coincidence that since Berardi returned, Leeds have been more stoic. He gives the team some attitude. 7/10

Giuseppe Bellusci

It’s becoming a recurring story with Bellusci. Week by week he looks more and more like a capable Championship centre-back. 7/10

Sol Bamba

Tony Watt was anonymous in the main and Danny Graham wasn’t much better. Bamba won those battles and took his goal superbly. 8/10

Charlie Taylor

Put under a fair amount of pressure on the left-hand side but dealt with it well and didn’t let Ben Marshall cause much damage. 7/10

Toumani Diagouraga

The right decision to recall him for a game which was always going to be a scrap. Leeds totally dominated that area of the pitch. 8/10

Liam Bridcutt

Was probably due a strong display and delivered it by hassling Rovers into errors and denying them any time on the ball. 8/10

Lewis Cook

Couldn’t quite pick his passes as he would have liked but the effect of his intense workrate was keenly felt. 7/10

Alex Mowatt

Nice to see a return to form from Mowatt. This season has passed him by a bit and a strong finish would be good for him. 7/10

Mirco Antenucci

Yet another match which showcased the quality of his finish. For the second time in five days, sealed the win with an outstanding breakaway goal. 8/10

Souleymane Doukara

Used to look like a spare part. Now plays in a way which makes him a handful for opposition defences. 7/10

Substitutes:

Stuart Dallas (for Mowatt, 74) - Didn’t make a massive impression but the balance of the match remained in Leeds’ favour, right up until injury-time. 5/10

Chris Wood (for Doukara, 85) - Finally back from a hamstring injury and helped to limit Rovers’ pressure at the death. 6/10

Luke Murphy (for Diagouraga, 90) - The game was virtually done by the time he came on. Made one necessary clearance. 5/10

Subs (not used): Eric Grimes, Scott Wootton, Mustapha Carayol, Jordan Botaka.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire) - Handled a feisty, abrasive game with common sense. Most of the yellow cards were deserved. 7/10

Attendance: 16,071

Blackburn Rovers:

Jason Steele - 6

Ben Marshall - 6

Shane Duffy - 5

Grant Hanley - 5

Tommy Spurr - 6

Darragh Lenihan - 5

Hope Akpan - 5

Jordi Gomez - 5

Elliott Bennett - 6

Tony Watt - 5

Danny Graham - 5

Substitutes:

Simeon Jackson (for Watt, 63) - 6

Craig Conway (for Gomez, 71) - 5

Matt Grimes (for Lenihan, 76) - 5