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Attendance: 33,771
Leeds logo
Championship
Nov 19, 2017 at 1.15pm UK
 
Middlesbrough logo

2-1

Hernandez (25'), Alioski (55')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Assombalonga (76' pen.)

Leeds United hold on for crucial victory over Middlesbrough

Leeds United draw level on points with Middlesbrough in the Championship table thanks to a 2-1 win over their promotion rivals at Elland Road.

Leeds United have returned to winning ways in the Championship with a 2-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at Elland Road.

The Whites opened up a two-goal lead as they went in search of a first victory on home soil in two months, only for Britt Assombalonga to pull one back from the spot in the final quarter of the match.

Despite a nervy conclusion, Leeds held on to pick up the three points required to draw level with their opponents in sixth place, keeping their playoff ambitions well and truly alive.

Boro felt that they should have had a penalty in a quiet start to the match, as Gaetano Berardi wrestled Assombalonga to the ground when attempting to defend a corner.

Stewart Downing then tested Andy Lonergan, given the nod today despite a shaky display at Brentford prior to the international break, with a long-range drive.

That would prove to be as good as things got for the Smoggies in the first half, however, as an out-of-form Leeds side slowly grew into the match.

From their first attempt of any note, Pablo Hernandez - brought to Elland Road by Garry Monk - blasted home at the front post after Kalvin Phillips flicked on Ezgjan Alioski's right-sided cross.

United, who had attempted the second-lowest number of shots on target prior to this weekend, saw Samuel Saiz and Liam Cooper prove wasteful from good positions as half time approached.

Not since the opening day of the season have the Smoggies managed fewer first-half shots on target, and it was not long before they found themselves with an even bigger goal margin to overcome.

Alioski had the simple tasking of helping the ball over the line at the back post following an inch-perfect delivery from Hernandez, 48 seconds after Boro youngster Marcus Tavernier rifled over the bar from a glorious position.

Tavernier then turned the ball wide at the front post as the visitors looked for a route back into the match, while Martin Braithwaite's shot deflected off Luke Ayling and onto the post.

Leeds were looking lively at the other end, though, themselves hitting the post through Saiz's 25-yarder after linking up with Ronaldo Vieira, and they really should have had a third moments later as Cooper nodded wide when left completely unmarked.

Downing and Assombalonga were the next to try their luck for the visiting side, neither managing to test Lonergan, but the North-East outfit did drag themselves back into things with 14 minutes to play.

In a bizarre incident, Ayling was penalised for grabbing the boot of Daniel Ayala, having being left aggrieved after his opponent dragged him to the floor seconds beforehand.

After discussing the incident with his linesman, referee Keith Stroud pointed to the spot and Assombalonga converted following a lengthy delay to set up a tense finale in West Yorkshire.

Leeds successfully saw through eight minutes of added time, with Braithwaite's deflected attempt on the spin the closest Middlesbrough came to a leveller, meaning a losing return to Elland Road for former boss Garry Monk.

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General view at the Riverside Stadium ahead of the Premier League clash between Middlesbrough and Chelsea on November 20, 2016
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Tables header RHS
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2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
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8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720

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