Middlesbrough only really had themselves to blame as they lost 3-1 at Leeds United, with two second-half goals coming from sloppy play of their own.
A side as good as Leeds hardly need encouragement, with their winning goals coming at a time when an early own goal after the interval from Max Wober had brought Boro back into the game after such a difficult first half.
Ultimately though, goals from Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James and Brendan Aaronson were enough to seal the points that sent the home side back to the top of the Championship. Here’s how the Boro players rated.
Seny Dieng - 7
Probably unlucky more than anything for the first goal, that admittedly doesn’t look pretty for him. But he recovered well and actually made a number of really good saves through the game to keep Boro in it, including one from Dan James just before his decisive second.
Anfernee Dijksteel - 6
Battled hard and actually kept Gnonto largely quiet. On the odd time Leeds did get behind him it was usually on Boro’s other flank, with Dijksteel using his pace well to recover if ever caught too high up.
George Edmundson - 6
Was having a really good game putting his body on the line and making some big headers. But his poor ball out from the back gifted Leeds the third goal that sealed them the game in stoppage time as Boro pushed for an equaliser.
Matt Clarke - 6
Not the easiest game to come back in for, particularly as Leeds had so much joy down the left-hand side. He made some big blocks and headers, but he was too easy to run off at times.
Neto Borges - 4
A really tough evening for the Brazilian who couldn’t get to grips with Dan James throughout. He let the winger run off his shoulder for the first goal too easily and was caught out time and again.
Dan Barlaser - 4
Boro struggled to have any real control in the game, with Leeds slicing through the Boro midfield far too easily. Boro hardly helped their cause by being so sloppy in possession, with Barlaser one of the main culprits.
Hayden Hackney - 4
As was his midfield partner. Another disappointing display from Hackney who regularly put team-mates under pressure with poor passes. That was the case for Leeds’ decisive second as he hardly helped McGree out with his pass into him.
Ben Doak - 6
With Boro struggling for any kind of control in the game, they struggled to get Doak into it. Things improved in the early stages of the second half and he led a fair few counters, but no success on the night.
Finn Azaz - 5
Tried throughout to find some space and get involved more in the game but he ultimately struggled to have much impact.
Riley McGree - 5
Like Azaz, he struggled to get into the game as Boro struggled to have the ball and play through the lines. He also struggled to offer much help or protection for Borges down the left and perhaps should have protected the ball better for Leeds second - though he won’t thank Hackney for the pass.
Emmanuel Latte Lath - 6
Battled hard up top, though it says a lot about Boro’s overall performance that his most notable contributions were defensive ones. He did well a few times running deeper and winning Boro possession in dangerous places, including for the break which led to the corner that Boro scored from.
Substitutions
Delano Burgzorg (For McGree, 81’) - N/A
Tommy Conway (For Azaz, 82’) - N/A
