Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 4 (Bamford 3, Klich 45+3, 73, Costa 67)

Middlesbrough 0

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips (Berardi 83), Klich, Hernandez, Costa (Alioski 76), Harrison, Bamford (Nketiah 79).  Subs not used: Miazek, Douglas, Clarke, Stevens.

Boro: Pears, Ayala, Fry, Saville, Wing (Liddle 70), Bola McNair, Howson, Tavernier, Fletcher (Walker 90), Assombalonga (O’Neill 77). Subs: Mejias, Clayton, Wood, Reading.

Booked: Bamford, Phillips (Leeds), McNair, Ayala, Howson (Boro)

Referee: K. Stroud

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 35,626 (1,806 Boro)

Leeds United ran out 4-0 winners against Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship, recording a fifth straight victory in the division.

The Whites made a blistering start to the match, with Luke Ayling firing an early warning with a curling effort from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot which went narrowly wide of the post.

Leeds took the lead inside three minutes, Middlebrough goalkeeper Aynsley Pears could only spill a Patrick Bamford header following a cross by Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez dinked the ball back into the danger zone, allowing Bamford to head home against his former side.

Soon after Boro defender Mark Bola sliced a clearance, giving Bamford another opportunity to strike, but this time he was denied by a good save from Pears.

Ayling again went close when he controlled well and fired at goal from just inside the Middlesbrough box, but this time his attempt went just over.

Lewis Wing shot wide for the visitors after being set up by George Saville, before Harrison whipped in a cross which Bamford did well to get anything on, with his header saved by Pears.

The Whites extended the lead three minutes into stoppage time when a Bamford cross deflected into the path of Mateusz Klich whose deflected strike found the back of the net.

Half time: Leeds United 2-0 Middlesbrough

Four minutes into the second half a Stuart Dallas cross was headed out to Harrison who saw an effort brilliantly saved by Pears and from the resulting corner, following a neat routine, Klich fired just over.

Daniel Ayala headed over at a Boro corner, before Dallas played Bamford into the box with a neat pass, but he couldn’t get the better of Pears.

Helder Costa saw a shot well blocked after good play from Klich and Harrison, whilst Dallas fired over from the edge of the box.

Leeds went further ahead in the 67^th minute, when Costa showed decent skill to work his way into the area, before firing home his first league goal for the club.

Kiko Casilla was called into action to deny a Marcus Tavernier free kick, before Leeds added a fourth.  Following another well worked corner, the ball was played out to Klich on the edge of the box and he found the top corner with a fabulous finish.

Kalvin Phillips almost added a fifth with a free kick, but an unbelievable save by Pears prevented him from doing so.

Saville struck an effort over for the visitors late on as Leeds saw out the remaining minutes to move back to the top of the table.

Full time: Leeds United 4-0 Middlesbrough