Kyle Bartley headed his first goal for nearly three years to earn Leeds their first home win of the season and leave Blackburn rooted to the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship after a 2-1 defeat.

Centre-half Bartley, drafted in on loan from Swansea in the summer, rose to head home substitute Alex Mowatt's 87th-minute free-kick to secure Leeds their first win at Elland Road under Garry Monk and ease some of the pressure on the head coach.

Monk labelled this a 'must-win' game after Leeds' home defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday had seen them slip into the bottom three and Bartley lifted some of the gloom after Blackburn substitute Marvin Emnes had cancelled out Chris Wood's second-half opener.

Blackburn winger Craig Conway volleyed just over the crossbar early on, while Leeds' first purposeful attack, triggered by centre-back Pontus Jansson in the 18th minute, ended with Rovers defender Derrick Williams diverting Charlie Taylor's deep cross behind goal for a corner.

Image: Kyle Bartley earned a late win for Leeds United

Taylor headed straight at Jason Steele in the 34th minute as the heavens opened, but while there was thunder in the sky there was little on the pitch.

Leeds winger Hadi Sacko tried to instil some and earned himself a yellow card for crashing into Williams on the edge of the area, but Conway's free-kick was squandered as the first half ended goalless.

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Rovers midfielder Ben Marshall fired a low shot narrowly wide just after the restart before Leeds responded with their best chance of the match. Sacko broke free into the area and his shot was deflected off Tommie Hoban.

Leeds skipper Liam Bridcutt hobbled off in the 49th minute and was replaced by Kalvin Phillips before home striker Marcus Antonsson made space to fire straight at Steele.

Image: Garry Monk's side grabbed all three points through Kyle Bartley's late strike

The home side were gathering some momentum. Bartley's downward header from Hernandez's corner bounced over and soon after they made the breakthrough.

Sacko, not for the first time, got the better off Rovers left-back Williams and crossed for Wood, a 61st-minute replacement for Antonsson, and he steered the ball beyond Steele from six yards in the 65th minute for his fourth goal of the season.

Rovers rallied and Sam Gallagher's shot was blocked by Luke Ayling, but, when Leeds failed to clear the danger on the edge of their area, Emnes was afforded too much space 20 yards out and the Dutchman obliged with a fine drive beyond Rob Green for a 77th-minute equaliser.

Leeds midfielder Euna O'Kane's debut was halted early as he was forced off in the 83rd minute and replaced by Mowatt as Rovers threatened to snatch all three points.

Emnes' angled drive was well saved by Green and Gallagher's follow-up was brilliantly blocked by the former England goalkeeper.

But back came Leeds. Mowatt swung over an 87th-minute free-kick and Bartley rose highest to head home his first goal since December 2013 while on loan at Birmingham.

Sacko spurned a golden chance to make sure for Leeds in time added on after charging into the box, but the home side held on, while Owen Coyle's Blackburn slumped to their fifth defeat of the season.

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