Goals:
1-0: Bamford (3, made no mistake with a second invitation after Pears was unable to deal properly with his initial header)
2-0: Klich (45, left in far too much space on the edge of the area to direct and effort that deflected off Ayala and dropped in)
3-0: Costa (68, waltzed through the home defence before firing beyond Pears)
4-0: Klich (74, curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 20 yards after being left in too much space again)
Referee: Keith Stroud (Poole) – he got his cards out when he needed to and Leeds’ quality made his job easy. 7
Bookings: Bamford (23, deliberate handball); Phillips (25, foul); McNair (27, foul)
Attendance: 35,626
Entertainment: ***
Leeds Boro
Shots on 10 1
Shots off 6 6
Corners 4 1
Offsides 3 2
Fouls 11 19
LEEDS UNITED (3-5-2): Casilla 6; Ayling 7, White 7, Cooper 7; Costa 8 (Alioski 76), KLICH 9, Phillips 8 (Berardi 83), Dallas 7, Harrison 7; Hernandez 7, Bamford 7 (Nketiah 79). Subs (not used): Miazek, Douglas, Clarke, Stevens.
MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-2):
4 Pears: Was guilty of the error that handed Leeds the lead with Bamford’s opener but made numerous saves after that;
4 Howson: Started really slowly and when he did get to grips with another switch of role he improved and played whole-heartedly
4 McNair: Didn’t look as effective as he has been but Woodgate did admit he shouldn’t have been playing anyway
4 Ayala: Looked unsettled with more changes to his backline and guilty of not holding things together
4 Fry: Given the runaround by a really dangerous Leeds and learned lessons he is unlikely to forget
3 Bola: Looked well off the pace again and appeared to frustrate his head coach at times;
4 Wing: Replaced in the second half after it Woodgate grew frustrated with how the game panned out
3 Saville: Back in the team and short of the quality required and infuriated Tavernier late on with a decision to shoot
3 Tavernier: Grew in frustration as the game wore on and failed to make correct decisions on a number of occasions
4 Fletcher: This wasn’t the sort of day for two strikers looking to continue their recent good form
4 Assombalonga: Looked disappointed to have to chase the Leeds defenders around on an afternoon when his boss suggested he should not have played with an injury.
Subs:
LIDDLE (for Wing 69): Got stuck in after his introduction to the side. 5
O’Neill (for Assombalonga 69): Had a couple of touches but nothing to trouble Leeds. 5
Walker (for Fletcher 90)
(not used): Mejias (gk), Reading, Wood, Clayton.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mateusz Klich – a midfield performance to drive Leeds to a victory with two goals his movement earned.
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