Blackburn Rovers have moved within two points of a playoff place in the Championship after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Leeds United this afternoon.
Blackburn hit the front early on courtesy of a 13th-minute strike from the in-form Jordan Rhodes, before Rudy Gestede's bullet header later in the half provided Rovers with a healthy 2-0 half-time lead.
Matt Smith halved the deficit early in the second half for the hosts but it would not be enough to deny the visitors victory at Elland Road.
Rhodes, who ended the calendar year with more goals than Liverpool hitman Luis Suarez, picked up where he left off toward the end of 2013 by firing Rovers into a 1-0 lead.
The former Huddersfield Town marksman received a pass from teammate Tom Cairney, before firing past United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny on 13 minutes.
The visitors should have doubled their advantage mid-way through the opening half, as DJ Campbell - restored to the starting lineup for the first time since his arrest in a match-fixing investigation - saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by defender Tom Lees.
Nevertheless, Gary Bowyer's men soon added to their one-goal lead. Gestede - also restored to the first XI - rose highest to meet Cairney's corner before thumping his header past the helpless Kenny.
Brian McDermott's troops emerged from the interval as the better side and could have gone ahead within minutes of the whistle, with Matt Smith dragging his effort past the post.
However, Smith was soon afforded the opportunity to make amends and the 24-year-old made no mistake this time, converting Sam Byram's pass into an empty net to reduce the deficit on 53 minutes.
Despite being pegged back in the clash Bowyer's charges could have re-established the two-goal margin in the scoreline, only for Tommy Spurr to see his overhead kick cleared off the line, before United averted the danger.
McDermott's men struggled to complete the comeback and Rovers held out for an impressive victory, with the Lancashire outfit two points adrift of sixth-placed Ipswich Town.
Shane Callaghan
