BORO 1 (Main 82), LEEDS 0

Boro: Steele, Bikey, Friend, Williams, Woodgate (Halliday 66), Parnaby, Main, Leadbitter, Haroun, McEachran (Miller 74), Carayol (Bailey 89). Subs: Leutwiler, Ledesma, Jutkiewicz, Smallwood.

Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Peltier, Lees, Warnock, Green (Diouf 84), Brown (Habibou 89), Norris (Austin 84), Varney, Morison, McCormack. Subs: Ashdown, Pearce, White, Tonge.

Referee: K Stroud

Att: 18,388 (2,099 Leeds)

Booked: Bikey, Main (Boro), Peltier (Leeds)

Sent Off: Main (Boro)

United manager Neil Warnock stuck with the same starting line-up that was denied victory by an injury time equaliser at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The only changes made to the squad for the clash with Middlesbrough were the additions of El-Hadji Diouf and Rudy Austin to the United bench, with Ross Barkley and Ryan Hall making way.

The home side had gone five games without a win in the league but they carved out the first chance when Rhys Williams put a Grant Leadbitter free kick over the bar.

United's first effort on goal came moments later when David Norris fired wide from distance. After some great build up play, United had another chance when Norris had another effort on goal but this time Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele denied him with a great save.

Striker Steve Morison was involved in United's next opportunity when Luke Varney sent a shot wide.

With the game heading towards the half-hour mark both teams were looking to carve out opportunities, and it was Varney who went close again for Leeds.

United should have taken the lead when Paul Green found Ross McCormack with the goal at his mercy, only for Jonathan Woodgate to clear off the line.

Just before the half-time interval it was Boro that opened up United's defence when Mustapha Carayol was through on goal but Paddy Kenny got out to him in quick fashion to block brilliantly.

The second half started with Morison having a header cleared off the line and United also made a good early clearence.

United's defence was called into action again when Boro had two corners in quick succession and Kenny also made a good save before Tom Lees cleared.

It was quite an open contest as the second half continued and United came close when McCormack sent in a free-kick but Paul Green couldn't connect.

It was Boro that came close to taking the lead midway through the second half when Leadbitter went close with a free-kick just outside the United penalty area.

Boro came close once again and this time it was Kenny who made a fantastic double save to keep the score at 0-0.

Moments later it was United that came close when Morison headed goalwards from a Varney cross but it flew safely into Steele's hands.

In the 82nd minute the deadlock was broken. Curtis Main found himself in plenty of space at the far post and sent a looping header beyond the reach of Kenny.

Main's luck ran-out minutes after he scored Boro's goal as he received two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off by Keith Stroud.

With only seconds gone since his arrival, United substitute Habib Habibou almost made an instant impact when his header was saved brilliantly by Steele.

United chased the game into injury time but the equaliser never came and the search for an away league victory continues.