Leeds United 3 Middlesbrough 1: Winger dazzles as Whites overcome own goal to move top — YEP 10/12/24
By Lee Sobot
Leeds took on Championship promotion rivals Middlesbrough
under the Elland Road lights with another top spot chance.
Leeds United reclaimed the Championship's top spot and this
time moved two points clear by overcoming an own goal for a brilliant 3-1
victory against Tuesday night's visitors Middlesbrough.
Whites boss Daniel Farke made four changes to his side, two
of them forced with full-backs Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle both out injured.
Firpo is facing four to six weeks out with a hamstring injury whilst Bogle was
also a doubt for the contest due to a hamstring issue but not a serious one.
Sam Byram, himself back from a hamstring injury, replaced
Bogle at right back whilst Max Wober was handed a first league start of the
season at left back having replaced the injured Firpo midway through the first
half in the weekend's win against Derby County.
The other two changes saw Willy Gnonto replace Manor Solomon
out wide and Mateo Joseph come in for Joel Piroe upfront as Solomon and Piroe
both dropped to the bench.
Leeds lined up sat in second place, one point behind
Sheffield United, but knowing that a victory would send them top and above the
Blades who visit Millwall on Wednesday night.
Boro, meanwhile, began the evening in fifth place, seven
points behind Daniel Farke's Whites who kicked off looking for an eighth home
in succession.
The evening also marked a milestone moment for Dan James as
he made his 100th appearance for the Whites and the winger caused chaos as the
stand out player in the first half.
Leeds began brightly and James squandered a chance in just
the third minute as he was able to intercept a poor Dan Barlaser back pass only
to drag his shot wide from the edge of the box.
Yet the pace of James then led to Leeds going ahead with
just 14 minutes on the clock amid a mess at the back from Boro keeper Seny
Dieng.
Right back Byram slipped in James with a lovely pass down
the right flank and James burst away before fizzing in a low cross through the
box looking for Joseph.
Dieng got there first but he was unable to properly gather
the ball and Willy Gnonto pounced to convert from close range.
Boro had offered little although Riley McGree saw claims for
a penalty ignored after going to ground under pressure from Joe Rodon.
But Leeds went on to create a host of other chances, none of
which were taken as the Whites had to settle for leading 1-0 at the break.
James was at the heart of most of them, the winger sending
in another low cross which flew just in front of Joseph through the six yard
box.
Boro finally fired in an attempt in the 23rd minute through
Finn Azaz but his shot from the edge of the area flew well wide and Leeds were
soon back attacking.
James again got in down the right in the 40th minute but
opted to cross when keeper Dieng was stranded and his cross was cleared.
From an Aaronson through ball, Dieng then dived at the feet
of James to thwart the winger from netting one on one.
Leeds then squandered arguably the best chance of the lot in
the 44th minute as poor Boro defending led to the ball dropping in the box for
Aaronson but the USA international snatched at the opportunity and walloped his
effort over the bar.
Even then there was time for two more Leeds chances, Gnonto
smashing in a low effort from the edge of the box that Dieng beat away and the
half ending with Boro defender George Edmundson heading a Joe Rothwell free
kick narrowly over his own bar.
Boro were always likely to improve after the break and did
so, flying out the traps and a threatening move ended as Latte Lath was flagged
offside.
After a spell of Leeds pressure, the Riversiders countered
at pace in numbers in the 56th minute and only a fine save from Illan Meslier
kept out a strong volley from McGree, Meslier tipping the ball wide for a
corner.
Yet Boro made that corner count thanks to a Leeds own goal,
Max Wober attempting to clear a Barlaser inswinger but his header flying into
the top left corner.
The game was suddenly completely in the balance and Boro
quickly pressed for a second. They looked sure to get it from another counter
in the 68th minute as Hayden Hackney played in Ben Doak but Meslier flew off
his line with a sliding challenge to smother the ball at his feet.
At the other end, Boro keeper Dieng then saved the visitors
after Ao Tanaka played in James whose strike was saved as another good chance
went begging.
Yet James made no mistake a matter of seconds later, the
winger again played in behind the back line but this time rifling a terrific
finish into the top left corner with 74 minutes on the clock.
His strike looked set to prove the winner although there
were a few nervy moments as Boro looked for a second leveller and even more so
when seven minutes of added time were announced.
Yet Leeds ultimately bagged the fourth goal of the game
themselves after brilliant work from Tanaka who intercepted the ball as Boro
looked to play out and sent in that man James.
James then put the ball back across the box for Tanaka who
had stormed into the area and looked set to score but the Japanese
international instead teed up Aaronson who bundled home from close range to
send Elland Road wild.