Farke’s men win it by a short head

BOSS Daniel Farke saluted his unlikely heading heroes as Leeds edged past 10-man Middlesbrough.

Diminutive wingers Dan James and Crysencio Summerville both netted first-half headers as United came out on top in another madcap thriller.

They were 3-2 up at half-time as they made it seven home wins in a row – the first time they’ve done that since 2009.

Farke said: “We created so many good moments and the goals were a sign of our will and how desperate we were to win.

“Daniel James is not a natural-born header but he was fully committed.

“And Crysencio Summerville is not known as the best header in this league but he was fully committed.”

Boro took a third-minute lead when Emmanuel Latte Lath rifled in at Illan Meslier’s near post.

But the hosts levelled within two minutes when Sam Byram curled in a cross for James – who stands at just 5ft 7in – to nod in his sixth goal of the season. Third-placed Leeds didn’t hang around taking the lead when Archie Gray whipped in a ball for Summerville to score in the seventh minute as the crazy start continued.

They went 3-1 up via Joel Piroe’s 38th-minute penalty.

Latte Lath headed in from a 45th-minute corner but Leeds dominated.

Anfernee Dijksteel was sent off in the 63rd minute after lunging in on the impressive James to earn his second yellow card.

Boro boss Michael Carrick said: “We gave as good as we got and it feels almost like we’ve let one slip here.”

LEEDS: Meslier 7; Gray 8, Rodon 7, Struijk 7, Byram 7; Kamara 8, Ampadu 8; James 8 (Gnonto (82) 6), Piroe 7 (Gruev (90) 5), Summerville 8 (Anthony (90) 5); Rutter 7 (Bamford (82) 6) MIDDLESBROUGH: Dieng 7; Dijksteel 5, Van der Berg 6, Mcnair 6 (Clarke (36) 5), Bangura 6; Howson 7, Barlaser 7 (Gilbert (82) 6); Jones 7, Crooks 6 (Silvera (72) 5), Rogers 6; Latte Lath 7 (Coburn (72) 6) STAR MAN: Dan James – Constant threat down the right and grabbed his sixth goal of the season. REF: Darren England 7