Leeds 3-2 Middlesbrough: Daniel Farke’s side stay third with seventh home win in a row

• Leeds United scored three goals in a frantic first half of Championship football
• Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough also notched two in the first 45 minutes
• We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

As the Kaiser Chiefs’ classic I Predict a Riot boomed out at the final whistle, Daniel Farke headed towards the Don Revie Stand for his now customary victory wave celebrations.

The German was all smiles once again after a seventh successive win at Elland Road for his Leeds United side who remain the only unbeaten team in the Championship on home soil this season.

It was, by Farke’s admission, a chaotic encounter but ultimately another ringing endorsement of Leeds’ promotion pedigree.

You have to go back to 2009 for when they last enjoyed such rich form at their atmospheric old stadium, when they won 15 home League One matches consecutively.

Middlesbrough led inside the third minute but Leeds were soon 2-1 up and added a third before Emmanuel Latte Lath claimed his second on the stroke of half-time.

Leeds United stay in third place in the Sky Bet Championship after strong win over Middlesbrough

Michael Carrick’s side now sit 12th in the league after 19 games, winning eight but drawing three and losing another eight

Promotion rivals Middlesbrough stunned Elland Road when Emmanuel Latte Lath opened the scoring with a superb third-minute strike.

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Boro had Anfernee Dijksteel dismissed in the second half and Farke reflected: ‘I couldn’t be happier and prouder of my boys.

‘It was important to be brave and sometimes perhaps be a bit over-aggressive and over-emotional instead of being too relaxed.

‘We showed exactly this in the first half and created so many good situations.

‘The goals were a sign of how desperate and greedy we were. It was a really priceless three points against a really good opponent.’

Boro led when Latte Lath curled a superb right-foot shot into the net at Illan Meslier’s near post.

The response from Leeds was emphatic as Sam Byram’s deflected left-wing cross was headed home by Dan James in the fifth minute.

Two minutes later, Archie Gray crossed dangerously from the right flank and Crysencio Summerville nodded in.

Leeds had their third when Boro defender Matt Clarke – who replaced the injured Paddy McNair moments earlier – felled Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe fired home from the penalty spot.

Former Manchester United man Daniel James gave Leeds United the lead after just five minutes

Crysencio Summerville added a second goal just two minutes later as Leeds stormed out the blocks

Latte Lath then headed in from a corner on the stroke of half-time and Boro lost Dijksteel to a second yellow card in the 63rd minute for a lunge on James.

The visitors came within inches of an equaliser after Sammy Silvera’s cross was deflected onto a post by Pascal Struijk.

Boro are currently decimated by injuries and suspension but boss Michael Carrick took the positives, saying: ‘I was not disappointed with the boys.

‘It’s a tough place to come and Leeds have got some really good individuals, but I kind of feel we gave as good as we got.’

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