Goals:

1-0: Hernandez (24, arrived at the back post to hammer home Alioski’s curling cross)

2-0: Alioski (54, arrived at the back post to meet and convert Hernandez’s delivery after fine work from Roofe)

2-1: Assombalonga pen (77, stayed cool to convert after a controversial penalty decision)

Bookings: Berardi (34, foul); Friend (30, foul); Jansson (34, foul); Howson (60, foul); Phillips (81, foul)

Sending-off: None

Referee: Keith Stroud (Poole) – made a number of strange decisions including the second half penalty that gave Boro a lifeline. 4

Attendance: 33, 771

Entertainment: ***

Leeds Boro

Shots on 2 2

Shots off 12 10

Corners 3 10

Offsides 2 3

Fouls 13 16

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-1-1):

5 Randolph: Beaten twice but not really asked any more serious questions;

5 Roberts: Struggled initially and lost his man Hernandez for the opening goal

5 Ayala: Involved in the penalty decision when he was brought down by Ayling

6 Gibson: Got himself in the way of plenty but still left frustrated by seeing two goals go in

5 Friend: Given a tough afternoon by the excellent Alioski and replaced by Traore when Boro had to go for it

6 DOWNING: Sent over a few decent deliveries and went close with a first half strike

5 Leadbitter: Never given a moment in possession by the Leeds players and sacrificed for the extra forward

5 Howson: Found it tough on his return to Elland Road and picked up a caution

5 Tavernier: This was the youngster’s toughest game since breaking onto the first team stage

5 Braithwaite: Not as effective in the final third as he has been in recent matches

6 Assombalonga: Had a poor start but struck his penalty like a predatory and calm strike

Subs:

Johnson (for Tavernier 55): Unable to have the impact that was required. 5

Traore (for Friend 65); Lively enough when he got on and looked to impress. 6

Fletcher (for Leadbitter 71)

(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Fabio, Fry, Forshaw.

LEEDS UNITED (4-3-3): Lonergan 6; Ayling 5, Cooper 6, Jansson 8, Berardi 7; Vieira 6, Phillips 7, Saiz 7 (O’Kane 88); Hernandez 8, ALIOSKI 8 (Pennington 90); Roofe 7 (Ekuban 77). Subs (not used): Wiedwald, Anita, Sacko, Grot.

MAN OF THE MATCH: EZGJAN Alioski – made life difficult from start to finish for Boro and crucial in both Leeds goals.