Dynamic duo give Rovers headache (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Dynamic duo give Rovers headache

5:48pm Sunday 26th July 2009

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Leeds United 1, Blackburn Rovers 1

Jermaine Beckford and Fabian Delph showed their class as the debate continued over the Leeds pair’s ability to perform at Premier League level.

Beckford’s 50th-minute goal looked like being enough to defeat top-flight opponents Blackburn at Elland Road, until substitute Alan Sheehan brought down Martin Olsson in the last minute and Paul Gallagher equalised from the spot.

Beckford, who came off the transfer list earlier this month, showed electrifying pace at times, while Delph hit a post and produced several clever touches before being replaced by Andy Robinson in the 69th minute.

United manager Simon Grayson was delighted with his team’s performance and said: “We played very well, had good shape, looked organised and were hard to break down.

“It was a strong Blackburn side, which showed they were after a good game, and we certainly gave them that.

“For 80 minutes or so we were outstanding. We tired a bit and made changes but we created some good chances during the game, hit the post a couple of times and Paul Robinson made some good saves.

“We defended well too and we want to play against this level of team on a regular basis. Now we have two more good tests against Newcastle (on Wednesday) and Burnley (Saturday).”

Grayson gave a debut to former Leicester central defender Patrick Kisnorbo, who was substituted after 56 minutes, while impressive goalkeeper Shane Higgs and right back Jason Crowe made their first home appearances, Crowe also lasting until 11 minutes into the second half.

Bradley Johnson, preferred to Robinson on the left, did his reputation no harm with some tricky runs and his second half free-kick was well saved by former Leeds keeper Robinson.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce was away on a scouting trip to Russia but his side included summer signings Lars Jacobsen, from Everton, Steve N’Zonzi (Amiens) and Gael Givet, who was on loan from Marseille last season. A fourth recruit, Elvio van Heerden (Brugge), was one of Rovers’ used substitutes.

Congestion at the turnstiles caused the match to be delayed by 15 minutes but when play eventually got underway, Leeds looked much sharper and Blackburn were twice saved by a post in the first 14 minutes.

First Delph hit an upright and then French defender Givet turned the ball on to his own post.

Luciano Becchio went close for Leeds on the half-hour mark and as Blackburn came more into the game, winger Morten Gamst Pedersen fired into the side-netting from his side’s first genuine chance, while Kisnorbo made a vital block to deny Jason Roberts.

However, United seized a deserved lead when Becchio got his head to a corner and Beckford pounced for the finishing touch from inside the six-yard box.

With last season’s first-choice keeper Casper Ankergren sidelined by injury, former Cheltenham player Higgs took his chance to shine, producing an exceptional one-handed save to foil El-Hadji Diouf soon after Beckford’s goal and generally handling with confidence.

Robinson received a warm reception before the game in recognition of his 119 appearances for United and there was more generous applause when he was replaced by Jason Brown just after the hour.

The game became disjointed through a series of substitutions by both sides and, after Sheehan was fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty for an 84th-minute push, the left back shoved Olsson and this time there was no reprieve, Gallagher sending Higgs the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.

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