KLICH CAN CLINCH IT! Leeds closing in on the Prem thanks to Mateusz
Middlesbrough Leeds
RELENTLESS Leeds opened up a five-point promotion cushion as Mateusz Klich finished off Boro for the second time this season.
Home boss Jonathan Woodgate is under pressure with his side sliding deeper into relegation trouble – they are out of the drop zone only on goal difference.
But Marcelo Bielsa’s men are heading the other way into the Premier League on this form. Only ruthless finishing is missing.
Leeds have now won three games in a row, correcting a wobble which saw their 11-point lead over third place eaten away.
Boro have gone three games without scoring and 11 without a win, in a miserable run that could see them go down.
Poland star Klich scored twice in the 4-0 win over Boro at Elland Road and added another one here.
Bielsa regards him as his most reliable performer, with stamina and fitness made for an end-of-season scrap. The gulf in class between the sides, one second in the division, the other fourth bottom, was evident as Leeds bossed the game, with slick passing and rapid movement.
The only surprise was it took the visitors 45 minutes to break through.
Leeds ripped Boro apart on the break. Pablo
MATCH STATS
Hernandez’s shot smacked the post and the rebound was gathered by Stuart Dallas, who had a fine game pushing forward.
Dallas slipped a clever pass to Klich, who fired in off the far post. Only heroics from keeper Aynsley Pears had kept Boro in the game.
Leeds piled on the pressure early on, living up to Bielsa’s pledge to continue with Plan A to go high energy and wear out opponents. Patrick Bamford missed chances, the first on 14 minutes ghosting in behind the defence to head Luke Ayling’s cross at Pears’ feet.
Dallas had a point-blank shot brilliantly saved by Pears, with Hernandez relieved to be offside after hammering over the rebound.
Youngster Pears was on top form to tip away Jack Harrison’s curling volley and was at it again diving low to push away Bamford’s shot.
Then he kept out Hernandez’s left-foot shot bound for the top corner.
Marcus Tavernier went close to a second-half shock, hitting the bar for Boro. Leeds gradually looked less convincing, but saw the game out.
M’BORO: MOTM Pears 8, Howson 6, Shotton 6, Moukoudi 5, Friend 5 (Johnson 63, 5), Clayton 5, Saville 5 (Nmecha 67, 5), Tavernier 5, Wing 5, Coulson 5, Fletcher 5 (Assombalonga 73) LEEDS UNITED: Casilla 6,
Ayling 7, Berardi 7, Cooper 6, Dallas 7, White 6, Helder Costa 6, Klich 7, Hernandez 7 (Shackleton 73), Harrison 7, Bamford 6 REFEREE: Gavin Ward
ATT: 24,647