Crysencio Summverille wheels away, pursued by Patrick Bamford, after scoring Leeds’ fourth goal. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Getty Images
It is no longer in their hands but Leeds still retain real hope of securing automatic promotion after reclaiming second place in the Championship following a timely return to form on Teesside.
Given that Michael Carrick’s improving Middlesbrough are nobody’s pushover at the moment, Daniel Farke’s side needed to rediscover the ruthlessness that had deserted them in recent weeks. To the considerable relief of the travelling Leeds fans, Crysencio Summerville, Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto obliged with potentially vital goals in a thrillingly compelling game that showcased the second tier’s often underrated appeal.
While this restorative win leaves Leeds one point behind the leaders, Leicester, and one ahead of third-placed Ipswich, their two rivals have three games remaining while Farke’s team have just two – at QPR on Friday and at home to Southampton the following Saturday.
From the moment the team sheets were printed Isaiah Jones’s duel with Junior Firpo promised to intrigue and, sure enough, it turned into one of a series of subplots that did not disappoint. Tellingly, Jones had already enjoyed quite a bit of early success against Farke’s left-back when the Middlesbrough right winger shot his side into a seventh-minute lead.
As Illan Meslier and Emmanuel Latte Lath collided, Firpo hesitated, permitting Jones to pounce. The frown lines on Farke’s forehead seemed to deepen but his team responded and won a penalty after Anfernee Dijksteel sent Georginio Rutter crashing as he strove to make amends after being tricked by the Frenchman’s quick feet.
Summerville settled visiting nerves thanks to a textbook conversion before Bamford further banished memories of Leeds’ collection of a solitary point in their previous three games by scoring against his former club.
The visiting centre forward enjoyed two successful spells at the Riverside and had already started to drag Carrick’s defenders out of position when he reminded his former public of his scoring ability.
Firpo showed he is often better at attacking than defending by unleashing a looping cross, and a just onside Bamford timed his run to perfection, catching a flat-footed rearguard cold before using the top of a knee to direct the dropping ball beyond Seny Dieng.
As Boro fans questioned why their goalkeeper had not come for the cross, the visiting fans treated the ground to an ironic rendition of “Leeds are falling apart again”.
It proved a case of tempting fate as Latte Lath shimmied his hips, conjured some space and sent a sublime shot swerving beyond Meslier from the edge of the area after Finn Azaz had done well to seize possession.
At this point it was easy to see why Boro had kicked off unbeaten in their previous nine games and are deeply frustrated to have timed their renaissance too late to make the playoffs. Yet Leeds’ desperation to secure automatic promotion felt palpable and they duly hit back when an arguably just offside Gnonto lashed a rising shot past Dieng after catching Dijksteel daydreaming.
Gnonto, though, had much to thank Archie Gray for after his elegant advance through midfield confounded Carrick’s team. Gray did well at right-back earlier in the season but central midfield is surely his natural home.
Bamford used to joke that the Teesside air suited him and Dieng did well to keep out his curling shot as Leeds ended the first half on top, if not exactly in control. By way of emphasising the latter point Boro began the second period in dominant mode, leaving Gray and company struggling to touch the ball let alone string passes together.
It took a counter-attack to change the narrative. When Summerville collected Firpo’s pass he accelerated with menace and, having dropped a shoulder while manoeuvring the ball from his left to right foot, proceeded to direct a curling shot well out of Dieng’s reach. Latte Lath reduced the deficit with a fabulous finish to ensure a nail-biting finale but Leeds clung on.
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »