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The injury problems for Blackburn had been mounting. Damien Duff, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Matt Jansen were all unavailable, so Graeme Souness changed his tactics with a lone frontman, Egil Ostenstad, employed.
The new system worked a treat as his team took the lead through skipper Garry Flitcroft in the 24th minute.
Keith Gillespie beat Ian Harte down the right before crossing low for Flitcroft to score past Paul Robinson.
The young goalkeeper went on to have an excellent game. He tipped two long-range David Thompson efforts round the post and touched the same man's free kick on to the crossbar.
Leeds were missing Harry Kewell through illness and it showed as they lacked the cutting edge necessary to break down a resilient Blackburn defence.
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Gillespie could have added a second in the final minutes when he dragged an effort wide but it did not matter.
Blackburn manager Graeme Souness was delighted to have finally secured only his side's second win of the season.
"This was a battling performance by us and I thought we did very well," he said. "Leeds put us on the back foot for the second half but we determinedly hung on."
His opposite number Terry Venables was understandably disappointed with the result.
"Blackburn passed the ball well in the first half and we could have played better," he admitted.
"In the second we dominated the game for long periods but could not break through."