Leeds move back into the Championship top two

Leeds United moved themselves back into the top two and the automatic promotion spots in the Championship with a thrilling victory at the Riverside against mid-table Middlesbrough in a Yorkshire derby.

‘Boro started on the front foot and the Smoggies, unable to reach the playoffs, took an early lead via Isaiah Jones when he took advantage of some poor Leeds defending.

Leeds were back level less than ten minutes later, though, when their key man Crysencio Summerville equalised for the Whites from the penalty spot and then a quick-fire goal from Patrick Bamford, bundled in off his chest, gave the visitors the lead.

In a thrilling first-half, though, there was to be another couple of twists as Emmanuel Latte Lath brought the hosts back level on the half hour mark before Willy Gnonto re-established Leeds’ lead about ten minutes later.

Leeds were a lot more controlled in the second-half and they doubled their one-goal advantage with Summerville completing a brace around an hour into the clash at the Riverside.

Emmanuel Latte Lath’s late looping header over the stranded Ilan Meslier gave ‘Boro some hope of rescuing a point but Leeds’ shaky defence managed to hold on the late Middlesbrough onslaught.

Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough, who were playoff semi-finalists last season, sit ninth in the Championship table after 44 matches, whilst Leeds are a point above Ipswich Town but the Tractor Boys do have a game-in-hand as we head into the final couple of weeks of the 2023/24 season.

"There will be more twists and turns" 😬

Billy Sharp and Stewart Downing says the race for promotion is far from over 👇 pic.twitter.com/1DsFdtxUXR

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 22, 2024