Leeds manager David O'Leary is calling on referee Andy D'Urso to forsake Football Association rules in favour of a second change of heart in the space of seven days.

D'Urso was in charge of last week's clash between Charlton and Newcastle at The Valley where he sent off Alan Shearer for what he thought was an elbow on Jon Fortune.

That red card was quickly rescinded by D'Urso after the Billericay official had studied video evidence.

O'Leary wants him to do the same for Robbie Fowler after the recent £11million recruit was booked for diving during Leeds' 2-1 victory against Blackburn at Ewood Park today.

Fowler was brought down by Blackburn's Henning Berg just outside the area. But instead of winning the free kick, the Leeds striker became the seventh player to have his name taken.

O'Leary said: "I'm very disappointed with the Robbie Fowler booking. The TV people have come to me and shown me a replay, and I have to say it is scandalous he was booked for what happened.

"Let's start putting pressure on people and let's see them be brave enough and man enough that when they make wrong decisions they then reverse them."

O'Leary took a similar stance when Robbie Keane was booked for diving during a 2-0 defeat at Sunderland last month.

But FA rules are not on his side.

While a match official can rescind a straight red card, he cannot reverse a dismissal for two bookable offences or for a yellow card.

The incident did not detract from what was only United's second victory in their last eight Premiership outings - a win which allowed them to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to four points.

Blackburn had twice struck the woodwork through Matt Jansen and Tugay before Harry Kewell took his goals tally to nine for the season with two second-half goals.

Berg managed to pull one back for Rovers late in the game, but it was not enough to prevent Graeme Souness' side suffering a second consecutive home defeat.

The only downside for O'Leary is that he will now be without Olivier Dacourt for up to six weeks after the France international midfielder dislocated his right shoulder in helping to set up Kewell's second.

David O'Leary "THIS was a great three points, particularly vital with Liverpool winning yesterday.

"But the biggest disappointment is that we will be without Olivier with the injury for quite a while. It is another bad blow for us, because we are already down to the bare bones.

"We are losing players badly, and I do not know where we go from here.

"But this was probably the best we have played for some time.

"The one thing I felt we had not been doing was working hard enough - but we showed much more endeavour today because whenever we lost the ball we fought hard to get it. There was a great deal of team spirit and togetherness."

Before three home games in seven days - starting with Leicester at Elland Road next week - the only player due to return to the squad is Seth Johnson after he today served a one-match ban.

O'Leary has another seven players out injured, while striker Alan Smith today began a three-match suspension following his dismissal during a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa a fortnight ago.

The manager was at least happy with the application shown by his team and he added: "This was probably the best we have played for some time.

"The one thing I felt we had not been doing was working hard enough - but we showed much more endeavour today because whenever we lost the ball we fought hard to get it. There was a great deal of team spirit and togetherness."

Souness, meanwhile, was at a loss to understand how his side had failed to win a point against Leeds given the number of chances Rovers created.

"We should have got a draw, and on another day I think we would even have won this," he said.

"They had a great 10 minutes at the start and a good five minutes at the end of the first half, but apart from that we bossed the rest of the game.

"It sticks in my throat because we have not taken anything from one of the fancied teams who people think are potential champions of England.

"I know they haven't won anything yet. But it is that belief which is keeping them going just like it has done at Manchester United over the years and at Liverpool last season.

"Liverpool, Arsenal and Leeds will be the teams there at the finish - but to tell you the truth I'm not really bothered with that right know."