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.
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