LETHAL LEEDS SEE ROVERS RETURNED

LEEDS ended Blackburn's unbeaten start to the season with a 4-3 win at Ewood Park on Sunday with all seven goals arriving in a 30-minute first-half spell.

The result also put paid to Leeds' three-match losing sequence and brought them their first goals in a month.

But their victory was marred by six bookings and the bizarre sending off of young Australian midfielder Harry Kewell, dismissed 12 minutes from time for a second yellow card imposed after he twice moved the ball as Blackburn tried to take a free-kick.

The outcome also meant that champions Manchester United, who beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday, stayed league leaders, while Blackburn, top since August 12, remained second.

A close-range effort from Rod Wallace and a well-struck volley from Dutchman Robert Molenaar in the opening six minutes put Leeds 2-0 up.

Blackburn were level after only 16 minutes with an outstanding 25-yard drive from Kevin Gallacher and a Chris Sutton penalty, awarded after Molenaar hauled down Swedish international Martin Dahlin inside the area.

But a minute later Leeds were 3-2 ahead after a superb goal from Wallace, who dribbled across the penalty area before finding a tiny space to shoot into the top left-hand corner of Tim Flowers' net.

Six minutes after that David Hopkin put Leeds 4-2 ahead, picking his spot with a cross-shot that left Flowers floundering as the ball bobbled past him into the far corner.

Blackburn, revitalised this season under new coach Roy Hodgson, were far from defeated and Dahlin reduced the deficit to 4-3 just 12 minutes before the break. However, the second half failed to live up to the excitement of the first.