Sky Bet Championship
Middlesbrough 3 (Bamford 31, 36, 67) Leeds United 0
A Patrick Bamford hat-trick saw Middlesbrough claim all three points at a freezing Riverside.
After a week of adverse weather across the country, the hosts managed to get the game on after a major clean-up operation and Leeds head coach named an unchanged side, following last weekend’s 1-0 win.
It was a bright start by the home side when Ryan Shotton put in a lovely cross from the right but Stuart Downing couldn’t connect at the back post.
Patrick Bamford then had a chance for the hosts after cutting in from the left, but Felix Wiedwald got down well to save with his legs.
The next attack saw former Leeds player Jonny Howson shoot straight at Wiedwald.
The action switched quickly to the other end, a mazy run from Ezgjan Alioski saw him feed Samuel Saiz, but he could only fire over the bar.
Ben Gibson then went close for Boro, but he could only head wide following a corner.
Leeds had their best chance of the half when Pontus Jansson met a Stuart Dallas corner, but the Swede couldn’t direct his header goal-bound.
Middlesbrough then had another chance, first Downing saw his shot blocked and then Daniel Ayala’s bicycle kick drifted wide.
The home side took the lead in the 31st minute when Bamford found the net with a neat finish following a cross from Downing.
Bamford got his second of the game after Traore drove downfield and played in the striker, who managed to beat Wiedwald with a powerful effort.
Gibson had the opportunity to make it three before the break, but he headed wide once more from a corner.
Half Time: Middlesbrough 2-0 Leeds United
Wiedwald had to make the first save of the second period when he got down well to claw away Downing’s corner at his near post.
Leeds had a great chance on 53 minutes whenJansson met a Dallas corner, but he got underneath his header.
Saiz then created a chance with Dallas, but his shot deflected wide for a corner.
Jansson had another chance, again from a Dallas set-piece but was off target with his header under pressure.
Bamford caused havoc in the Leeds penalty area following a long throw from Shotton, Wiedwald could only spill, but this time he fired wide.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga then had half a chance for Leeds, with an effort from the edge of the box, but he got underneath his shot and it drifted harmlessly wide.
Bamford completed his hat-trick after Traore saw his shot blocked and fall into the path of Bamford who fired home, as Boro came away with the three points.
Full Time Middlesbrough 3-0 Leeds United
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Besic, Leadbitter (Clayton 43), Howson, Traore, Downing, Bamford (Craine 90), Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Fry, Baker, Harrison, Assombalonga
Leeds: Wiedwald, Berardi, Cooper (C), Jansson, Anita, Phillips (Vieira 46), O’Kane (Ekuban 68), Alioski (Forshaw 46), Saiz, Dalla, Lasogga Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Pennington, De Bock, Sacko.
Referee: D England
Booked: Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) Saiz, Anita, Cooper (Leeds United)
Attendance: 27,621 (2,987 Leeds)
Venue: Riverside Stadium