Leeds overcame Blackburn in a pre-season friendly last night, thanks to a triple treat of goals from Ian Harte.

In what was a pretty even match all round, both teams were hungry for victory, with the season around the corner.

The first half contained most of the games action, with the first goal coming in the 13th minute, when Leeds were awarded a free kick. Up stepped Harte, who launched the ball crashing into the opposite corner of the net, leaving international team-mate Alan Kelly helpless.

Blackburn pushed on, and the equaliser was sent home, when a half-clearance of a corner gave Gary Fitzcroft the opportunity to jab it into the net.

Blackburn then almost took the lead, when Ashley Ward's cross was met with a sliding shot from Matt Jansen. But the shot skimmed wide narrowly missing the net.

As the half was coming to it's end, the game fell into a slight lull, but in the 44th minute, Harte blasted in a second cracking goal, courtesy of another excellent free kick.

But things were not over yet, when Blackburn replied with a goal from Martin Taylor, who struck the ball into the net, following a clearance off the line by Gary Kelly. All even at half time.

The second half started off a little slow, despite the odd chance from both sides. Then, in the 66th minute, another free was awarded to Leeds.

That man Harte stepped up again, and his effort produced another goal that shell-shocked the Blackburn defence. It might have deflected off the Blackburn wall, but took nothing from the overall sheer class of the hat-trick.

Leeds held on to the lead until the final whistle, and the victory is a real boost for the Yorkshiremen whose Champions League campaign is just a week away.