Leeds United 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Peter White's big match verdict

THE jeers of the Leeds United faithful, as they booed their team off the field at Elland Road, must have been music to the ears of Blackburn Rovers.

And Tony Parkes could certainly be forgiven for not being apologetic about a lack of entertainment, as another tweak of his tactical revolution ground out a point that could yet be priceless at the end of the season.

His switch to three centre backs, with Ian Pearce earning a long-awaited recall, and the operation of Jeff Kenna and Graeme Le Saux as wing backs to crowd midfield, proved effective against lacklustre Leeds.

It wasn't very pretty, just very effective.

As a TV spectacle, it certainly wasn't worth missing Coronation Street and Eastenders to be at Elland Road.

You could have had more fun watching Don Brennan search for a box of matches, or Grant Mitchell take a blood test.

But there were two sides to last night's soccer soap.

Realistically, Rovers did a professional job and took another small but maybe significant step towards survival.

For the idealist, the lack of entertainment, attacking quality and excitement offered for the not inconsiderable admission money asked these days was deplorable.

But we live in a real world.

And, besides, did anyone really anticipate anything different than exactly what we got from last night's encounter when Elland Road was, virtually, a thrill-free zone?

George Graham, who boasts more clean sheets as a manager than Ron Atkinson has medallions, has stamped his familiar hallmark on Leeds.

But they have failed so far to average even a goal a game in their home matches.

Rovers, who have one of the best defensive records in the Premiership, don't average a goal a game on their travels.

They have also now drawn 10 of their 17 away matches and last night saw Leeds tot up a not inconsiderable goalless draw number seven of their season. Hardly surprising then that the scoresheet remained blank.

In fact, the only mystery is why Sky chose this match for their Monday night "live" show.

Well, they got what most of us expected as it proved a turn-off for their viewers.

Defensively, Rovers adapted to their new formation quite well.

They kept Leeds to a minimum of chances, mainly from outside the penalty area, and Tim Flowers dealt capably with everything that came his way from the opposition.

His most uncomfortable moment, in fact, came from a back pass by Colin Hendry which forced him to concede a corner and bring cries of derision from the home crowd who chanted: "England's number four" at the Ewood keeper.

Glenn Hoddle appears to think so too, but, on recent evidence, that's another thing the England coach has got wrong.

Rovers themselves were strictly rationed, too, when it came to quality chances.

Yet if either side was going to win, it should have been them. For they fashioned the two clearest scoring opportunities of the night.

The first fell to Le Saux before half time, when Chris Sutton, who worked tremendously hard in frustrating circumstances with Kevin Gallacher up front, flicked on a long throw from Jeff Kenna.

Le Saux's finish with his favourite left foot was a major disappointment, threatening a few home fans in the Kop more than Nigel Martyn. The best moment of the match came on the hour mark when Le Saux slipped the ball to Billy McKinlay and his quality cross saw Gallacher leap above a defender at the far post.

His header clearly beat Martyn but struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety. It would have been another golden goal for Gallacher and I suspect Leeds, not the most fluent of sides anyway, might have fallen apart - under pressure from their own fans - if they had gone behind.

But in general the two sides lacked the ingenuity, flair and creative skill to break down two solid defences.

Rovers had a bit of luck from the first real threat to goal followed a mistake by Le Saux. Rod Wallace's cross got two deflections to keep it away from Lee Sharpe, racing in for the kill at the back post.

Then a wicked deflection almost helped Leeds 10 minutes before half time when the busy Lee Bowyer's drive forced Flowers to tip over. It didn't get any more exciting after the break but Rovers weren't too bothered about that, especially as they didn't have to defend against any sustained spells of pressure from the home team.

Flowers had his hands warmed by shots from well outside the penalty area by Brian Deane and Gary Kelly.

But they were meat and drink to the keeper, while Colin Hendry's head was almost always in the way whenever Leeds finished up lobbing the ball into the penalty area.

Rovers will be the happier with the end product, and that's the bottom line.

The uncommitted were no doubt among the thousands heading for the exits before the end of an instantly-forgettable affair.

And, if Phil Mitchell was watching in the Queen Vic, he was probably back on the booze by half time.

Rovers had to wait a little longer before they were home and dry with their precious point.

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