Cole shoulder for Leeds as Souness eyes Europe

Leeds United 2 Blackburn Rovers 3

The nightmare season just refuses to end for the lost boys of Leeds. Having lost a manager, a chairman, £80million and half their best players, they yesterday contrived to lose a match they should have won to end the lingering fears of relegation that still haunt Elland Road.

Having thrown away a well-deserved lead by conceding a silly penalty, they took control in the second half only for two lapses of concentration to hand their opponents a two-goal cushion.

It was too much to retrieve, even though Blackburn played with 10 men for the last few minutes after their full-back Vratislav Gresko was carried off with a serious leg injury.

It had looked to be going so well when in-form striker Mark Viduka put Leeds in front in the 21st minute. The player who has rediscovered his appetite for goals since the departure of former manager Terry Venables, picked up the ball in midfield and strode powerfully down the middle before laying it off to fellow Australian Harry Kewell. Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel could only parry his shot upwards and Viduka followed up to nod it over the line from close range. It took Viduka to 18 Premiership goals – one more than he scored in his first season at Leeds – and extended a rich vein of scoring form. It was his ninth in six games under the caretaker manager and his 20th of the season in all competitions.

He might have scored again moments later when Kewell switched wings and cut in from the left. He laid the ball back but Viduka slightly overran it, found himself with his back to goal, and a well-created opportunity was lost. He was soon to regret it, but not as much as his team-mate Michael Duberry regretted a moment of impetuosity. The defender stuck up an arm as he jumped for Damien Duff's corner, the ball made contact, Duberry was booked and David Dunn equalised from the penalty in the 38th minute.

But Viduka constantly threatened to restore Leeds' lead using his bulk to shield the ball and showing a surprising deftness of touch for so big a player. He almost scored again with a clever back-heel flick after Danny Mills made a run down the right, and with Leeds gaining the upper hand Blackburn's manager, Graeme Souness, took off the ineffective Hakan Sukur and restored Dwight Yorke's partnership with Andy Cole. It paid off almost at once.

Yorke's midfield header released Cole, whose first shot was blocked by Leeds' goalkeeper Paul Robinson, but the former England striker followed up to tap in after 68 minutes. And when Duff's corner evaded Robinson and was converted by substitute Andy Todd at the far post, the game was up for Leeds, despite a last-minute consolation from Alan Smith, who beat Friedel to Robinson's long kick.

Souness was happy enough with the performance but did not make too many claims for his side. "We were resolute and defended well, and when our chances came along we took them."

Reid conceded that the situation at the foot of the Premiership was still tight. "I might put on a suit and tie and go along to Maine Road to see if my old club can do us a favour against West Ham," he said. Given that Leeds' next match is away at Arsenal, they may need it.

Leeds United 2
Viduka 21, Smith 90

Blackburn Rovers 3
Dunn pen 38, Cole 69, Todd 78

Half-time: 1-1 Attendance: 38,062