AITOR KARANKA hailed the impact of summer signing David Nugent and called him the ‘reflection of our team’ as Middlesbrough won their seventh match in a row with victory over Leeds United.

Karanka had not achieved a win over Leeds in his 22 months of management, but ended the hoodoo in some style.

Nugent opened up the goalscoring for Boro, which was followed by a Giuseppe Bellusci own goal while Diego Fabbrini capitalised on a Sol Bamba slip to make it three.

And while the goal represented Nugent’s only shot of the game, his workrate and effort powered Middlesbrough to a victory which opened up a five-point gap over third-placed Reading.

Karanka is usually reluctant to reserve special praise for individuals, but he made an exception for Nugent.

“The score is not a fair reflection of the game. But David Nugent is the reflection of the team,” said Karanka of his £4million signing from Leicester City, who has scored three goals in five starts this season. “He’s a player who has arrived a month ago and is settling in perfectly. He’s a fighter on the pitch, and he transmits his power and his energy to everybody.

“We have Kike, we have Stuani, we have Fabbrini, we have Stewart Downing, we have 20 players all ready to play. David’s character is a reflection of the character of the team.”

Leeds were badly let down by their defensive errors in a game they will feel frustrated not to have brought anything away from.

The visitors grew into the game, saving their best spell for the second half where Mirco Antennucci put the ball in the back of the net only for it to be called offside. Karanka feels the points were more important than the performance.

“I’m happy with the points because we didn’t play really well,” said the Spaniard. “We knew it was going to be a tough game because Leeds are a good team, with a very good manager. It was always going to be a difficult game.

“I think the score is maybe not a good reflection on the game. We didn’t create a lot of chances, the first one was very soon in the game and was good for us, the second goal was an own goal and the third from a mistake. Everything was easier.

“I knew they would be a tough team to play against, I knew a lot about them especially their forward players, so it’s a very important three points for us.”

Boro’s winning run of seven games matches a 20-year-old record and puts the Teessiders in a strong position. But Karanka, characteristically, does not want his side to rest on their laurels.

“I think we need to go forward, we have to take the right steps,” said the head coach. “We are in September. I say that now and always that this league is a marathon. We have a week to prepare against Reading and two weeks for the following month before the next international break. I’m really pleased with how things are going.”

Karanka dedicated the victory to the embattled steelworkers on Teesside who are facing uncertainty with the mothballing of the SSI works in Redcar.

“I said that we try to do our best,” said Karanka, after his team warmed up in Save Our Steel t-shirts while there were several banners around the ground. “When there are bad moments people can forget them for 90 minutes and they can be happy with their team.

“We are here to support them. I want to dedicate this win to them today.”