Kewell puts on a master class

In addition to long-term injury victims Lucas Radebe and Michael Bridges, Leeds are without Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate, the suspended Alan Smith and Seth Johnson plus the injured Stephen McPhail and Eirik Bakke.

O'Leary said: 'We have players playing out of position so we are fully stretched and all we can do is dig in and battle on. Fortunately, there is a great spirit and togetherness in the squad.'

The manager will have another problem against Bolton on Boxing Day when Danny Mills, booked in this game for a foul on Damien Duff, will be suspended.

It was a bad afternoon for referee Andy D'Urso, who booked seven players, including Fowler. The official believed Fowler had dived but O'Leary expects the yellow card to be rescinded and said: 'I thought it was scandalous how he could be booked for that and I was very disappointed with the decision.'

He would have been equally frustrated that his new striker missed two chances late in the game which a few years ago Fowler would have considered sitters.

Yet, with Keith Gillespie sprinting past Ian Harte like the defender had lead in his boots, Duff teasing Mills into a series of rash tackles and Dunn intelligently spreading play across the pitch, Rovers looked a more than useful side.

'On another day we might have won that match,' said Souness. 'We had chances you would expect to see in the back of the net. But it was a big result for them. They needed that to stay in touch with Liverpool.

'As long as my players continue to perform like they did today, we have nothing to fear. There were

lots of good things for us in the match like the performance of the two wide men. Keith Gillespie has been on fire this season and I hope it lasts until next May.

'It does stick in the throat that we have got nothing out of a game we should have won.' Souness' frustration is understandable as there was a refreshing vigour to Blackburn's approach and there seems little doubt that, given a few breaks, they can finish in the top half of the table.

Leeds might easily have gone behind when Matt Jansen hit the upright with a fine downward header, though Brad Friedel needed to be at his best to deny Mark Viduka twice at the other end.

Blackburn might have scored twice after half-time, Harte clearing off the line from Gillespie and Tugay thundering a shot off the underside of the bar.

But Leeds secured victory with two Kewell goals in seven minutes, both inspired by centres from the right from Gary Kelly, a full back playing in midfield. Kelly ran the length of the Rovers half to cross for Fowler and when his shot was spilled by Friedel, Kewell was on hand to turn the ball in.

The Australian's 10th goal of the season was much more clinical, a powerful stooping header at the far post. Henning Berg pulled one back in the 83rd minute, scrambling the ball over the line from Corrado Grabbi's cross.