Worthington Cup 3rd round: Leeds United 1 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Peter White's verdict

DANNY Mills almost looked embarrassed as he celebrated scoring a last-gasp matchwinner to put Leeds United into the fourth round of the Worthington Cup at Elland Road last night.

And well he might. For it was certainly no Mills bomb that spared the Premiership leaders' blushes - and definitely not Mills and boom!

It was, in fact, a mis-hit free kick which undeservedly put paid to Blackburn Rovers' Worthington Cup campaign.

But anyone who looks beyond the scoreline will feel that Ewood boss Brian Kidd had plenty to be satisfied about as Rovers' youngsters went desperately close to a major shock against the young guns who have been flavour of the season so far.

David O'Leary's rookies have risen to the top of the Premiership. But Kidd scarcely gave that a thought as he handed Leam Richardson, 19, a senior debut, put teenagers Keith Brown and Jimmy Corbett on the bench and sent out a team that made the much-vaunted Elland Road 'babes' look like senior citizens.

And he could still have won a game which turned on a tale of two free kicks just as the fourth official was starting to hold up the board which signalled two minutes extra time.

Rovers rightly believed they should have had one free kick when Ashley Ward was knocked over in the centre circle. But referee Jeff Winter inexplicably waved play on and then had to give Leeds a free kick on the edge of Rovers' penalty area. In addition, why didn't he book or send off Craig Short for his foul? I don't know. Neither did Short.

As the official walked back the wall, Leeds then tried to take advantage with a quick free kick. It went wide.

Why didn't the ref then give a goal kick? I don't know, neither do the Rovers players.

So they felt hard done by on two counts after a performance full of character.

To take on the Premiership leaders and give as good as you get is a major plus for the squad.

Rovers had several players missing but illustrated that there is a togetherness, spirit and willingnesss to succeed.

The result won't do anything for their cup hopes but the display at Elland Road can surely only boost confidence.

If they can perform as capabaly as that against the current top team in the country, why should they fear anyone?

Rovers must take these experiences to heart and believe they have the qualities to get back in the Premiership, starting against Grimsby on Saturday.

The first half could hardly have gone more to plan as they took the sting out of the game. In fact, they had only one really anxious moment when it looked as though Leeds might score.

That came in the 19th minute when a lovely flowing move involving David Batty and Mills led to Erik Bakke crossing low from the right to set up Alan Smith.

The youngster looked a certain scorer and would have been but for a superb save from John Filan. The Aussie was off his line so quickly and bravely to block Smith's drive that the striker could not be blamed at all.

At the other end, Matt Jansen wriggled through and was unlucky to see his low cross blocked before putting Ashley Ward clear in space with a cunning free kick routine.

Nigel Martyn did not look at all happy as he scrambled Ward's shot to safety.

At times, Leeds had shown much more movement than Rovers. Yet Kidd's side were clearly so disciplined and knew their roles so well that the Premiership leaders simply could not find a way round or through them.

There was much to admire about the performance, underlined by the ovation given them by their travelling fans at the interval.

The second half produced more in the way of chances, another magnificent Filan save but opportunities for Rovers to win the game before the late heartbreak.

Filan's finest moment came in the 64th minute when Batty's shot changed direction completely thanks to a touch from Smith. But so too did the keeper to produce a marvellous one-handed save, tipping the ball over the bar.

He also had to stop efforts from Mills and Harry Kewell, finally starting to make an impression, but Rovers certainly weren't idle in attack.

David Dunn managed to get forward to shoot narrowly wide, Ward almost got Jansen clear and then the latter was close to a moment of magic.

Making a run down the left flank, Jansen had little support but glanced up to spot Martyn off his line. The shot was almost inch perfect, beating a stunned and back-pedalling keeper. But it bounced to safety off the bar.

With time starting to run out, both teams went close. Jansen just failed to connect properly with Damien Duff's excellent low cross at one end, while Kewell produced a masterful turn only to shoot against a post at the other.

It was odds on extra time when a Rovers attack was broken up by what looked a foul, Leeds went straight down to be awarded a free kick and, after Darren Huckerby was given one go, Mills had a second attempt. The wall jumped up, the ball sneaked below it and squirmed past Filan.

It was unjust and it was a cruel way to lose.

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