Toumani Diagouraga believes United have shown they can compete with the very best in the Championship on the back of Monday evening’s draw with Middlesbrough, a game which the midfielder felt his side were "unlucky not to win".

The goalless draw with promotion-chasing Boro could well have ended in all three points for Steve Evans’ men at Elland Road, had it not been for the heroics of visiting goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos to deny Souleymane Doukara’s second-half header.

Instead, the spoils were shared as Boro withstood a spell of late pressure after being reduced to 10 men, but the game added further fuel to the suggestion that Leeds fare better at home against the division’s top sides, having also taken points from meetings with Hull City and Derby County in recent months.

“We knew before the game that we’re good enough to beat anyone in this league,” said Diagouraga.

“We showed on Monday night that when we’re on top of our game, we can match anyone. We could have won the game.

“We were the better team in the first half - they did into the game in the second half - but we had enough chances in the end and were unlucky not to win it.”

The midfielder, a January signing from Championship rivals Brentford, has wasted little time in bedding into the United starting line-up and establishing himself in the team.

Monday’s visit of Middlesbrough was just his fourth outing in United colours, but Diagouraga left the field as the Sky Bet Man of the Match for his all-action display.

“I’m enjoying it a lot here,” he said. “I’ve been here two or three weeks and I’ve already seen how good the team is.

“Hopefully we can get some more wins under our belt between now and the end of the season.”