TWO-GOAL hero Jordan Rhodes showed nerves of steel to convert an 88th-minute penalty and earn 10-man Rovers the most dramatic of Roses victories in front of the biggest Ewood Park crowd of the season.

Leeds went in front in the 33rd minute through Souleymane Doukara and that was the way it stayed until 19 minutes from time when the recalled Rhodes took advantage of a comedy collision between goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and defender Liam Cooper to equalise.

Rovers lost Tom Cairney, a former Whites trainee, to a second yellow card eight minutes from the end of normal time.

But six minutes later another Leeds old boy, substitute Luke Varney, was adjudged to have been tripped in the box by Sam Byram.

And-ice cool Rhodes did the rest from the spot, sending Silvestri the wrong way to take his tally for the term up to seven and fire Rovers, who are now unbeaten in eight matches, up to sixth going into next Saturday’s showdown at fellow top-six outfit Middlesbrough.

Proceedings got off to a fast-paced start but it wasn’t until the 18th minute that the first chance arrived.

Unsurprisingly it was created by Ben Marshall, far and away Rovers’ biggest threat in the first half.

The winger danced past two would-be challenges down the left before sending over a cross that missed Rudy Gestede but made its way to Cairney.

The 6ft midfielder, released by the Whites as a 16-year-old for being too small, switched the ball on to his favoured left foot and curled a sweet effort on to the top of the bar and over.

Marshall was looking to run at right-back Byram at every opportunity and, after seeing a couple of speculative shots fly wide of the target, he tested Silvestri for the first time after he controlled Lee Williamson’s sweeping pass and cut inside.

Leeds’ best bet for a goal was coming from Adryan, their on-loan Brazilian who was finding plenty of space between the lines of midfield and attack.

With Rovers captain Grant Hanley off the field receiving treatment, he forced Jason Steele into a stunning save in the 32nd minute.

Adryan ran across the middle of the pitch before unleashing a 25-yard drive that was heading for the top corner until Steele somehow managed to tip it over.

With Hanley back on the field, sporting a new shirt minus a squad number, Rovers survived the resulting corner.

But another followed immediately and this time they were unable to deal with it as Rhodes, guarding the near post, chested Adryan’s in-swinger into the path of Doukara who, on the slide, managed to turn the ball past two bodies on the line and in off the post.

The well-drilled Whites, roared on by the largest away following in the Championship so far this season, kept Rhodes and Gestede under lock and key in the opening period and just about deserved their lead.

And they had the opportunity to double it immediately after the restart when Lewis Cook glided into space only to shoot straight at Steele from 20 yards.

With the intensity raised Rovers went closer in the 60th minute when a deep Marshall free kick was nodded down by Gestede to his strike-partner.

Rhodes’ connection, from a difficult angle, was a good one but Silvestri showed expert reactions to push it past the post.

Rhodes then turned provider for Gestede to send a chest trap and volley wide of the upright.

But two minutes later Rovers were level.

Gestede hooked the ball around the corner for Rhodes to chase down and, after Silvestri and Cooper got in each other’s way, he walked the ball into the empty net.

Silvestri had changed his kit at half-time as it appeared to clash with his team’s black outfield strip but he still did not see Cooper coming.

Rovers surged forward in search of a winner but it was Leeds who would have got one in the 79th minute had Steele not touched a Mirko Antenucci shot on to the post after the Italian striker bore down on goal.

Three minutes later and Cairney was given his marching orders after picking up his second caution for a foul on Cooper.

Further drama was to follow when Varney, a willing and effective 74th-minute replacement for the out-of-sorts Gestede, burst into the box and was seemingly felled by Byram.

Referee Kevin Wright agreed, giving Rhodes the chance to atone for his penalty miss against his former club Huddersfield Town in September.

He made no mistake to take the roof right of the famous old ground as Rovers celebrated their third straight home win – and their third straight win over the Whites.

Rovers: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Cairney, Evans (Taylor 89), Williamson (Tunnicliffe 65), Marshall, Rhodes, Gestede (Varney 74). Subs not used: Eastwood, Henley, Dunn, Conway.

Booked: Cairney, Duffy.

Sent off: Cairney 82.

Goals: Rhodes 71, 88pen.

Leeds: Silvestri, Byram, Pearce, Cooper, Warnock, Mowatt, Cook (Sharp 89), Bianchi (Bellusci 76), Adryan, Doukara, Antenucci. Subs not used: Taylor, Berardi, Austin, Tonge, Dawson.

Booked: Adryan, Warnock.

Goal: Doukara 33.

Referee: Kevin Wright.

Attendance: 21,432 (6,839 away).