Blackburn gave their European chances a lift and kept the threat of relegation lingering over Leeds with an impressive win at Elland Road.

Peter Reid's side seemed to be on their way to three points and near-certain safety when Mark Viduka continued his rich scoring streak with a close-range header midway through the first half.

But David Dunn's penalty cancelled out the lead, and Alan Smith's late effort was scant consolation after Andy Cole and Andy Todd had added to Rovers' tally.

Third-bottom West Ham can move to within three points of Leeds if they beat Manchester City, with the Yorkshiremen's next game a daunting one away at Arsenal.

Rovers had not won on their last 20 visits to Leeds, a run of 10 defeats and 10 draws, and they didn't make the brightest of starts.

Aussie Viduka broke through the middle and slipped a pass for Harry Kewell, whose shot across the face of goal was only parried by Brad Friedel into Viduka's path. He couldn't fail to score his 18th Premiership goal of the season.

But Viduka's joy was short-lived as Leeds conceded the equaliser eight minutes prior to the interval following a needless Michael Duberry hand-ball in the box. David Dunn did the rest.

Picking the ball out of his net was as much as Paul Robinson had to do in the opening 45 minutes, but he was busier after the interval, particularly once the constantly-jeered Turk Hakan Sukur had been replaced by Dwight Yorke.

Friedel was also called into action, diving at Smith's feet before watching anxiously as Viduka 's back-heel drifted just wide.

The breakthrough came when a nodded through-ball from Yorke into Cole's path first saw him hold off Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo, and although his first shot was superbly saved by Robinson, he was quickly onto the rebound.

Ten minutes later and Blackburn's victory was complete, with Robinson misjudging a Duff corner, allowing Andy Todd - a 64th-minute replacement for Craig Short - to guide home a simple sidefoot shot from four yards.

There was still time for late drama as Rovers played with 10 men for the closing 10 minutes - including four for injury time - in which Smith took advantage of confusion between Todd and Friedel to nod home his first Premiership goal since November 17.

But it was too little too late for Leeds, and now all United eyes will be on Maine Road tomorrow.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Andy Cole (Blackburn) - never gave Leeds a moment's peace

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Bakke (Simon Johnson 71), Wilcox, Smith, Viduka, Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Radebe, Bravo, Barmby.
Booked: Duberry, Matteo.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Short (Todd 66), Taylor, Gresko, Dunn (Johansson 51), Tugay, Flitcroft, Duff, Cole, Sukur (Yorke 61).
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Ostenstad.
Booked: Cole.

Att: 38,062
Ref: P Durkin (Dorset)