Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United: Dan James hits early winner

For much of the campaign, Boro have flattered to deceive and when they suffered five straight defeats in January and February, it was downright deception.

But despite an injury crisis at centre-back, they had regrouped and found their best form of the season with five wins from seven, putting them right back in the hunt for the top six.

Their best chance of the opening half fell for Kelechi Iheanacho, but the Nigeria striker volleyed miles over from inside the area, befitting a player who has scored once since arriving on deadline day from Sevilla.

Leeds again had chances to move further clear at the start of the second half but Joel Piroe was denied at close range by Travers and James drove a low cross beyond both the Dutchman and Solomon when the right ball would have given either a tap-in.

Without the cushion of a second goal, Boro had a string of chances to equalise in a five-minute spell but Finn Azaz and Delano Burgzorg missed the target and Karl Darlow saved well from the latter.

Substitute Patrick Bamford then thought he had wrapped it up with what would have been a first goal of the season from Willy Gnonto’s pass, but the flag went up even though the striker had timed his movement to perfection.

They survived some nervous moments in the last 10 minutes with balls flying across their own box, but they recognised the significance of leaving Teesside with three points with lengthy celebrations at the final whistle.