BBC 1/1/11
Leeds 1 - 1 Middlesbrough
Leeds waited until stoppage time to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches thanks to Luciano Becchio's strike.
David Wheater opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he glanced in Julio Arca's in-swinging corner and Arca could have extended Boro's lead when he shot wide.
Lacklustre Leeds burst into life when Lloyd Sam went close after a fine run and shot, but it looked like they would lose before Becchio intervened.
Ross McCormack then had a great chance to win it but his header was wide.
Leeds' performance was, at times, worthy of a New Year's Day hangover, and during the second half even the Boro fans were asking their Leeds counterparts if they could sign a song for them.
But the victory moves them into third place in the Championship while Boro's supporters will travel back to Teeside buoyed by a sterling display, although they will be heartbroken by Becchio's lifeline which, frankly, got the hosts out of jail.
Wheater, who could leave the club in the January transfer window according to Boro boss Tony Mowbray, had a chance to open the scoring before his first-half header, but he miscued when well placed in the penalty area.
Robert Snodgrass then went close with a dipping shot before Wheater glanced in the opening goal.
There was some debate as to whether the Boro centre-back got the vital touch with Becchio and Neill Collins in close attendance, but the finish did much to settle the visitors as they took a firm grip on the first half.
Arca, McDonald, and left-back Joe Bennett were linking well in the middle of the park and only Andy O'Brien's close-range shot from a corner was worthy of note for Leeds.
McCormack's free-kick on 59 minutes seemed to inject the hosts with some energy, however, as he shot narrowly wide and Sam's fine run and shot was even closer moments later.
Bennett was proving a positive influence throughout the game and his twisting run would have merited a fine goal if he had managed to keep his shot down.
Despite Leeds's brief flurry they failed to engineer any fluency to their play and a sign of their fortunes was represented by Snodgrass whose angled shot inside the area was heading for a throw-in before it was intercepted.
Thankfully for the midfielder, Becchio was on hand to spare the hosts with a strike from 12 yards, his 12th of the season, when Boro keeper Jason Steele punched out to him. But McCormack will be regretting his late miss, although that would have been mighty harsh on the visitors, who were resolute throughout.
Leeds 1 - 1 Middlesbrough
Leeds waited until stoppage time to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches thanks to Luciano Becchio's strike.
David Wheater opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he glanced in Julio Arca's in-swinging corner and Arca could have extended Boro's lead when he shot wide.
Lacklustre Leeds burst into life when Lloyd Sam went close after a fine run and shot, but it looked like they would lose before Becchio intervened.
Ross McCormack then had a great chance to win it but his header was wide.
Leeds' performance was, at times, worthy of a New Year's Day hangover, and during the second half even the Boro fans were asking their Leeds counterparts if they could sign a song for them.
But the victory moves them into third place in the Championship while Boro's supporters will travel back to Teeside buoyed by a sterling display, although they will be heartbroken by Becchio's lifeline which, frankly, got the hosts out of jail.
Wheater, who could leave the club in the January transfer window according to Boro boss Tony Mowbray, had a chance to open the scoring before his first-half header, but he miscued when well placed in the penalty area.
Robert Snodgrass then went close with a dipping shot before Wheater glanced in the opening goal.
There was some debate as to whether the Boro centre-back got the vital touch with Becchio and Neill Collins in close attendance, but the finish did much to settle the visitors as they took a firm grip on the first half.
Arca, McDonald, and left-back Joe Bennett were linking well in the middle of the park and only Andy O'Brien's close-range shot from a corner was worthy of note for Leeds.
McCormack's free-kick on 59 minutes seemed to inject the hosts with some energy, however, as he shot narrowly wide and Sam's fine run and shot was even closer moments later.
Bennett was proving a positive influence throughout the game and his twisting run would have merited a fine goal if he had managed to keep his shot down.
Despite Leeds's brief flurry they failed to engineer any fluency to their play and a sign of their fortunes was represented by Snodgrass whose angled shot inside the area was heading for a throw-in before it was intercepted.
Thankfully for the midfielder, Becchio was on hand to spare the hosts with a strike from 12 yards, his 12th of the season, when Boro keeper Jason Steele punched out to him. But McCormack will be regretting his late miss, although that would have been mighty harsh on the visitors, who were resolute throughout.
