HIS players might have impressed on the pitch, but Tony Pulis was keen to praise the off-field efforts that enabled Middlesbrough to return to the Championship’s top-six with tonight’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Leeds United.

Patrick Bamford was the hat-trick hero as Boro claimed their third home win in succession, but Pulis was quick to pay tribute to the efforts of the Riverside ground-staff and an army of volunteers that meant the game was able to take place despite the sub-zero conditions.

Heavy snowfall throughout the week had made it likely that tonight’s game would be postponed, but a 24-hour clear-up operation meant the pitch was playable and the areas surrounding Middlesbrough’s home ground were safe enough for a crowd of more than 27,000 to watch the Teessiders outplay their opponents.

Pulis travelled to the Riverside on Thursday night to watch the preparations unfold, and was hugely impressed by the collective effort that enabled the game to go ahead as planned.

“It was the best performance since I’ve been here,” said the Boro boss. “That’s nine goals in three games now and we have played very well. But this win is about the whole club. People from the community and our staff turned up for two days to get the pitch and terraces cleared and get the game on.

“I popped down last night around a quarter to five, and the people from the community were working here to clear the snow from the terraces and get the snow off the pitch. It was everybody – ground-staff and people who have come in, Middlesbrough supporters.

“It’s been a really first-class performance from everybody, and I’m so pleased we’ve put a good performance in because of them, never mind anything else. The people in the community, the people who love this football club and have come out to get this game on, it’s been a real reward for them.

“It inspired me. This area is a can-do area, you ask people to do things and they do them. They do their best to do it. I’m just very pleased for all those people who were working for nothing, doing a lot of things that other people wouldn’t bother doing.”

On the pitch, Bamford’s first career hat-trick proved the difference, with the former Chelsea trainee taking his tally to six goals in his last three games as he more than justified Pulis’ decision to play him as a central striker.

Bamford converted Stewart Downing’s cross to break the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark, before doubling his tally as he drilled home following a fine break from Adama Traore.

He claimed the match ball as he side-footed home midway through the second half, and is starting to reproduce the form that moved Aitor Karanka to describe him as the ‘best player in the Championship’ during his first spell as a Middlesbrough player.

“When I came to the football club we had Britt (Assombalonga) and (Rudy) Gestede, people who can play up front,” said Pulis. “Patrick is such a talented player – I’ve tried to play him on the left-hand side, coming around the striker.

“He played up front for the last half-an-hour at Sunderland and was absolutely fantastic. He got us a couple of goals and he’s done the same thing tonight. He’s played up front, and he was top drawer. He’s a tremendous footballer, he’s got tremendous talent, and it’s very important that he maintains that. When he shows that form, it helps.”

The quality of Boro’s all-round performance was impressive, with their direct approach enabling them to cause a succession of problems to a Leeds side that are rapidly dropping out of the play-off race.

“Patrick will get all the plaudits because he scored a hat-trick, but I thought there were some very good performances,” said Pulis. “We played through the pitch quickly, and when they had the ball, we got after them.

“It was front-foot football, which I like. I’m not a backwards, square, sideways manager. I like people to run forward and play forward, and move the ball quickly. Let’s play forward and create chances and opportunities.”

Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom branded his side’s performance as “unacceptable”, and was alarmed at his players’ inability to live with Boro’s style and tempo.

“I thought we were second best,” said Heckingbottom. “It’s not acceptable and we’ll not get to where we want to be with that performance. The way Boro played upset us and we didn’t compete well enough.

“We weren’t aggressive enough. I thought Boro did well and were on the front foot, but I’m more bothered about us and we just didn’t cope with it.”