Leeds regain top spot on Woodgate’s unhappy return

Jonathan Woodgate suffered a horror return on his first trip as a manager to Elland Road, as his injury-hit Middlesbrough team were outclassed by rampant Leeds United, who surged back to the top of the table.

Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds head coach, was sympathetic to troubled Woodgate, but the home players were far more ruthless as they made it five wins in a row.

Former Leeds defender Woodgate looked unhappy on the sideline as the game slipped away, but may have been cheered up by home chants of “there’s only one Jonathan Woodgate” and “you’re Leeds, and you know you are”.

The Middlesbrough manager needs to keep his own fans on side, though, as their club now lie a point above the drop zone in 20th place, after giving their opponents too much time and space, allowing Leeds to chalk up their biggest win of the season.

“I can’t knock the effort,” said Woodgate after this thrashing. “Leeds have improved their squad massively and we have lost a lot of players and replaced them with younger ones, ones from lower leagues. It’s difficult. But we keep fighting. Without a doubt, we need to do business in January. The chairman will be on the same page.”

Responding to how the home crowd reacted to him, Woodgate said: “It was an unbelievable reception.”

Veteran coach Bielsa had a chat with management rookie Woodgate at the end of the game and was careful not to criticise him in his press conference.

The Leeds head coach said: “It’s not a good idea to give an opinion [on Woodgate] after one game like this one, but I believe that the players that weren’t there today were missed. Too many were out of the team to think that this was the real Middlesbrough.”

Woodgate was not the only one facing his former club, with Patrick Bamford getting Leeds off the mark by scoring early on against his former club. Mateusz Klich grabbed two goals – including one stunning finish – and Helder Costa scored the other.

Leeds made a dominant start and their breakthrough came when Bamford had a header inside the six-yard box saved – only for Pablo Hernandez to eventually cross the ball back for him to head into the net.

Bielsa could perch on his now famous stool and watch contentedly as his men kept on pushing. Woodgate and his assistant Robbie Keane, pacing around the visiting technical area with hands in pockets, looked less at ease.

Middlesbrough temporarily took the sting out of the game during the first half but Leeds became threatening again as half-time approached and duly doubled their lead, with Klich scoring with a deflected strike off visiting captain Daniel Ayala.

That concession was bad timing for Middlesbrough – and things would only get worse.

Leeds were quickly back on the front foot again early in the second half, as Jack Harrison and Bamford had shots saved.

Helder Costa then put them 3-0 up, cutting into the penalty area, beyond some weak defending, to finish well. Klich then struck his second with an eye-catching, curling effort from the edge of the 18-yard box.