Luciano Becchio just loves scoring against our "poor" relations from the North of the County. Boro boss Tony Mowbray may well have a point that his team were the better side, he also mentioned a stomach bug which had laid Messers Steele and Emnes low but Leeds do deserve credit for a battling performance in the Elland Road drizzle against arguably the best Championship opponents I've seen us play this season.

Paddy Kenny and Alan Tate returned to the line-up as did David Norris, Jamie Ashdown, Jason Pearce and Michael Brown dropped down to the subs bench. Boro were skippered by our former favourite Jonathan Woodgate who received a warm reception from the home fans.

Boro were backed by a unusually large travelling support not often seen in the visitors end at Leeds started the brighter and enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. Scott McDonald and Lucaz Jutkiewicz had early chances kicking towards the Kop End.

Leeds tested Steele on 20 with a Byram header from a Diouf free kick but in fairness it was a dull opening half an hour or so. The large away following at least spurred the home fans into exchanging banter with the visitors who's repertoire included the "Jimmy Saville - he's one of your own!" ditty which we have heard in consecutive weeks from Chelsea and Derby fans.

On the half hour mark the Boro fans had something to divert their attention from vilifying the many victims of the repulsive Saville and the tenous link with our club and his birthplace when Jutkiewicz fired them into the lead. Having drawn a save from Paddy Kenny's legs following some sloppy Leeds defending, the big striker was quick to recompose himself and although his shot deflected off Tate's boot there was no denying he was going to claim the glory. Scott McDonald went one further and gesticulated at the Kop as the celebrations subsided.

Leeds responded and Jerome Thomas came close to finishing off a Paddy Kenny long punt, shooting across the face of goal. Sam Byram also tested Steele's goal with an acute lobbed than nearly dipped under his crossbar.

However Leeds finally got the equaliser on 45 when he smashed home an unstoppable half volley from the edge of the box and fiercely ricocheted off the post into the back of the net. Byram's ball had clearly got the better of Woodgate and Elland Road erupted.

Following the break, Jutkiewicz looked the most likely thorn in Leeds side and he continued to cause problems. Leeds had made a half time change, Paul Green was also feeling the effects of the stomach bug sweeping the nation although one would not have spotted it given a typical workmanlike performance from the ex Doncaster man.

Warnock brought on Aidy White at left back so Lee Peltier switched to right back and Sam Byram moved into right midfield, a position many of us have campaigned to see him in even though it may run the risk of him completing an ex Leeds midfield quartet at Carrow Road.

With the game poised to go either way, Leeds edged in front on 73 minutes, Becchio drew out a palm-stinging save from Steele following Diouf's precision cross and from the corner the man from Senegal was equally as accurate and Becchio made it four goals in five against the Teesiders by burying a header albeit off Woodgate for what proved to be a winner.

Leeds held on just, Kenny saving with his face, Boro hitting the post and even Steele going close with a header deep in injury time from a corner. However we were celebrating an early Christmas present, a fourth league win in five and just two points from the playoff places something we all would have settled for just six weeks ago when the defeat at Millwall left us 18th and looking more likely for a return to League One than the Premiership.

Photo: Action Images

Leeds United Polls