Rovers had endured two crushing defeats at the hands of Leeds during the previous season, losing 4-3 after a remarkable game at Ewood Park and suffering a 4-0 thrashing during the return fixture in Yorkshire, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's strike recorded United's third successive win over their Lancashire opponents.

Having shipped eight goals in two matches against Leeds, a 1-0 defeat at Elland Road was an improvement in the eyes of Hodgson, who claimed his players had performed well enough to deserve a draw, but the clock was beginning to tick on his reign as Rovers' boss.

Hodgson was named as manager before the start of the 1997-98 term and led Blackburn to a sixth-placed finish at the end of his first season, one point short of Leeds, but a dire start to the following campaign saw him relieved of his duties three months after Rovers' 1-0 loss in Leeds.

The defeat was one of seven suffered by Blackburn before Hodgson's dismissal and, while United were able to claim fourth place in the final Premier League table, Brian Kidd failed to rescue Rovers from relegation.

Hasselbaink, meanwhile, was beginning his second year in English football and had already made a name for himself with 22 goals during his maiden campaign with Leeds.

The striker missed United's first game of the new campaign – a goalless draw at Middlesbrough – through suspension, but he struck 18 minutes into his return to condemn Blackburn to a narrow defeat.

Hasselbaink anticipated a Rovers' throw-in and, after shaking off a challenge from Tim Sherwood, he exchanged passes with Clyde Wijnhard and slipped a low shot through the gloves of goalkeeper John Filan.

The Dutch pairing of Hasselbaink and Wijnhard impressed throughout the match, but Leeds were indebted to their defence for the clean sheet which secured their first win of the term.

Chris Sutton mis-kicked in front of goal as early as the sixth minute after a dangerous cross from Jeff Kenna gave him the chance to shoot, but Lee Bowyer went close to doubling United's lead with a shot which Filan tipped over the crossbar and Wijnhard also passed up a good opening before the break, shooting high into the crowd.

Leeds survived another scare when Robert Molenaar narrowly avoided turning the ball into his own net and Nigel Martyn became increasingly involved as Blackburn pressed for an equaliser.

Sebastian Perez's looping header forced an alert save from the Leeds keeper and Sutton and Jason Wilcox went close late on. The best chance fell to Kevin Davies – Blackburn's £7.5m record signing from Southampton – who could only drive a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

It was, however, a result which left United's manager, George Graham, pleasantly satisfied. "The win was the all-important thing," he said.

Premier League
Elland Road, Saturday August 24, 1998
United: Martyn, Hiden, Radebe, Molenaar, Harte, Hopkin, Bowyer, Haaland, Kewell, Hasselbaink, Wijnhard (Sharpe 83).