- Leeds moved a point behind Championship leaders Leicester after the victory
- Farke’s side ended a three-game winless run which had left their hopes in tatters
- Nottingham Forest have been stripped bare of their sympathy after three ropey decisions – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Serious questions had been asked of Leeds United’s promotion mettle in a terribly-timed run of just one win in five.
But Daniel Farke’s side answered many of them here as their stylish attacking play proved too strong for Middlesbrough in a Championship classic.
Falling behind to Isaiah Jones, Leeds responded through Crysencio Summerville’s penalty and Patrick Bamford.
Back came Boro through Emmanuel Latte Lath but brilliantly-taken goals by Wilfried Gnonto – albeit from an offside position – and Summerville took Leeds up into second.
But that wasn’t before Latte Lath’s second set up a frantic finale with his second of the night.
Crysencio Summerville proved to be the match winner for Leeds with two goals in a thrilling 4-3 win over Middlesbrough
The Dutchman fired in his 19th Championship goal of the season just after the hour on Monday night
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With Leicester winning on Saturday and Ipswich still having a game spare, Leeds delivered under intense pressure as the finish line moves into view.
It’s true Ipswich still have their automatic promotion destiny in their own hands but Leeds can only keep winning.
There was something in the air that suggested chaos and so it proved during a gripping first-half.
Middlesbrough drew first blood with Jones reacting quickest to find an unguarded net after Latte Lath, Ilian Meslier and Joe Rodon all collided chasing Finn Azaz’s through pass.
But Leeds weren’t down for too long, with Anfernee Dijksteel always trailing Georginio Rutter as he rushed towards the Boro box.
The little clip duly came, Rutter fell into the area and referee Tony Harrington had no hesitation.
Bamford wanted to take it but ultimately ceded the ball to Summerville, whose penalty was just beyond the reach of Seny Dieng as he dived to his right.
Leeds were ahead a few minutes later and Boro were left questioning why Dieng wasn’t more assertive as Bamford nipped in behind Matt Clarke to meet Junior Firpo’s inviting left-side cross and nudge the ball home.
Boro recovered their composure, with Meslier twice having to deal with Azaz’s dangerous inswinging corners in quick succession.
That suggested a Leeds vulnerability at the back and so it proved when Latte Lath made it 2-2 on the half-hour.
Rutter surrendered possession inside his own half and the ball was worked via Azaz to Latte Lath, whose eventually got a powerful shot off that Meslier’s glove couldn’t keep out.
But Leeds constructed the best move of the half to restore their lead on 39 minutes. Archie Gray found Summerville, whose through ball sprung Gnonto in behind.
Isaiah Jones had given the home side the lead after capitalising on a collision in the Leeds area
Boro goalkeeper Seny Dieng was made to rue his indecision as the ball evaded him and was chested in by Patrick Bamford
Emmanuel Latte Lath scored the first of his two goals of the night with a crisp drive on the half-hour mark
Replays suggested the Italian was offside but in this VAR-free competition he finished with aplomb and it counted.
Bamford forced a one-handed save from Dieng in first-half injury time before Middlesbrough adopted a more patient approach at the start of the second, troubling Leeds with possession and corners.
But that counted for nothing when Summerville scored Leeds’ fourth in stunning fashion. Firpo and Rutter were involved before the Dutchman stepped inside two defenders and picked out the far corner.
Bamford had the ball in the net again only to be denied by a very popular raised offside flag.
Substitute Dan James was challenged by Alex Bangura just as he was about to pull the trigger and that proved crucial when Latte Lath met Alex Gilbert’s searching long ball to loop a header over Meslier.
Daniel Farke’s side secured their first win in four Championship matches to climb up to second in the table
The final stages were never going to pass quietly and Rodon unconvincingly sent an Azaz cross wide. In stoppage time, Jonny Howson drilled a shot from outside the box that Meslier clutched.
Dieng twice came up for late corners just to ramp up the drama but Leeds clung grimly on for a priceless win.
