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.