Leeds returned to the top of the Championship table after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Daniel Farke’s team edged out their hosts thanks to a second-minute strike from Dan James, which proved to be the only goal of the match. Despite the narrow victory, Leeds had to withstand a late barrage from Boro as they looked to maintain their place in the automatic promotion race.
Farke’s frustration was palpable after two Leeds goals, one from Ao Tanaka and another from Patrick Bamford, were disallowed for questionable offside decisions. Farke, who is generally supportive of referees, expressed his displeasure with the linesman, Darren Williams, who had wrongly chalked off multiple goals in recent weeks. The Leeds manager criticized Williams’ decision-making, stating that the offside calls were clearly incorrect and that the assistant should be reassigned from Leeds games in the future to avoid further errors.
The match got off to a perfect start for Leeds when James scored within the opening two minutes. A well-timed pass from Junior Firpo found Manor Solomon, who danced around Boro defender Anfernee Dijksteel before sending a low cross into the box. James, who had evaded his marker Samuel Iling-Junior, finished the ball calmly beyond Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Travers to put Leeds ahead.
The goal settled Leeds into the game, and James, in particular, proved a constant threat. His pace caused problems for Boro throughout the match, and he nearly doubled his tally after sprinting clear once again, but Travers managed to keep the scoreline at 1-0. Middlesbrough had moments of promise, with Tommy Conway seeing a goal disallowed for offside after a mishit corner fell to him inside the penalty area.
Middlesbrough fought back with some strong attacking play, with Hayden Hackney pulling the strings in midfield. Hackney’s quick and precise passes brought the best out of forwards Delano Burgzorg and Finn Azaz, who tested Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow. However, the visitors’ defense held firm, and when Boro’s efforts finally seemed to bear fruit, Leeds had the fortune of the officials making the right calls.
Farke’s side was dealt another blow when Bamford thought he had scored in the second half, following a quick counterattack involving Isaac Schmidt and Wilfried Gnonto. However, the striker’s goal was once again ruled out for offside. Replays showed that the decision was wrong, but it didn’t dampen the positivity surrounding Bamford’s return after a year-long injury layoff. Farke was hopeful that Bamford, now fit and sharp, could play a key role in Leeds’ push for promotion.
Despite the disallowed goals and Middlesbrough’s mounting pressure, Leeds held on for a vital three points. The win saw them return to the top of the Championship, leapfrogging Burnley on goal difference and extending their lead over third-placed Sheffield United. With the promotion race so tight, every point counts, and Leeds’ resilience in the face of adversity has given them a crucial advantage. As the season heads into the final stretch, Farke will hope that his side can keep their focus and secure their place in the Premier League next season.”Leeds Return to Top of Championship After James’ Early Strike Secures Win at Middlesbrough”
