MIDDLESBRO
JORDAN RHODES started his fi rst game for Middlesbrough but even the £ 9 million man was not able to come up with a winner that would have meant so much to manager Aitor Karanka.
Karanka gambled by signing fi ve new players last month and needed an overdue win to take them back to the top of the Championship.
They rarely clicked, however, and failed to take advantage of unrest at Elland Road.
It was never likely to be a comfortable night for Leeds as fans made it clear before the match they have had enough of owner Massimo Cellino.
Hundreds gathered outside to beam slogans onto a stand, telling him “Don’t fi ght us, my friend” and “We were here before you and still will be after you’ve gone”.
Cellino, who was not at the game, refuses to back down over his fi ght with the Football League and broadcasters over the number of times Leeds have been on TV this season.
The presence of cameras may have been one reason for the large number of empty seats but it was surely also a response to a run of one win in eight games. Those who turned up saw a good start by Leeds as Boro defender Ben Gibson had to make two important early interceptions.
But then Boro’s Gaston Ramirez’s had a 14th- minute shot cleared off the line by Giuseppe Bellusci.
A header by Rhodes was disallowed after the linesman ruled the ball had gone over the line before Emilio Nsue crossed – a decision disputed by the defender. It was a rare glimpse of goal for Rhodes as Boro struggled to get through.
Karanka had seen enough after only 20 minutes of the second half and sent on David Nugent and Albert Adomah in place of Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani, who headed a good chance over the bar seconds before his exit. Leeds also struggled to carve out chances, but only a brilliant save by Dimi Konstantopoulos denied Souleymane Doukara putting them in front with a 71st- minute header.
A minute from time Gibson was sent off for a second yellow after a foul on Lee Erwin, and in added time Doukara was again stopped by Konstantopoulos.