Kalvin Phillips’ headed equaliser in the 11th minute of added time may come to be seen as the moment when, following a few wrong turns, Leeds’ long march back to the Premier League was set firmly back on course.
After a run of four defeats in six Championship games there had been talk of burnout but this thoroughly restorative point confirmed their status as automatic promotion favourites on a day when Jack Clarke’s collapse in the dugout meant that Marcelo Bielsa’s side were in no mood for celebrating.
The 12 minutes stoppage time added after Clarke’s need for urgent medical attention were nearly up when Liam Cooper headed a ball back across goal and Phillips used his forehead to finally send the ball past Darren Randolph’s reach.
Leeds had finished as strongly as they started but will probably prefer to gloss over much of what went between. Indeed, until Clarke began feeling unwell, the afternoon was mainly about Mikel John Obi’s midfield dominance. Although Lewis Wing scored the fine goal that seemed to have revived Middlesbrough’s own automatic promotion hopes, the former Chelsea stalwart – acquired as a free agent after two years playing in China – had been the outstanding individual. “My midfield was top drawer and Mikel the best player on the pitch by a mile,” said Tony Pulis – and Middlesbrough’s manager did not exaggerate.
After an initial 10 minutes spent weathering a Leeds attacking whirlwind as powerful as the storms battering Teesside, Mikel gained control of midfield and exerted an increasing influence. The Nigerian very rarely forfeits possession and, with Leeds beginning to lose the ball rather cheaply, it served him and Boro extremely well.
A recurring theme developed: a piece of intelligent play on Mikel’s part would preface Boro winning a set piece and, from that, only the lack of an incisive finisher would prevent them from taking the lead.
With the home wing-backs, Ryan Shotton and George Friend, ensuring that Clarke – who played the first 45 minutes before taking a seat in the dugout – and Jack Harrison failed to exert their customary menace on the flanks for Leeds, Boro were ascendant.
As the half-time whistle blew Bielsa could reflect on 45 minutes when his side failed to muster a single shot on target and his strikers, Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford – finally fit to make his first league start at the club that sold him for £10m last summer – were marginalised.
After seeing Aden Flint (twice), George Saville (twice), Shotton and Wing spurn good chances, Pulis was understandably frustrated his side managed only a single goal.
It is not so long since Wing was showcasing his attacking midfield skills at the non-league club Seaham Red Star while earning his living in a shower factory but he is making the step up to the Championship appear seamless.
Further proof arrived two minutes into the second half as he surged forward before collecting a cut-back from the excellent Friend and, having taken a split second to steady himself, side-footed beyond Kiko Casilla.
By then, though, Bielsa had brought Pablo Hernández off the bench and Leeds improved immeasurably, finally pressing their hosts into submission. They should have equalised during a spell of kamikaze Boro defending featuring Randolph twice denying Roofe from close range, Pontus Jansson heading against the woodwork and Bamford missing with the goal at his mercy.
“I’m disappointed,” said Pulis. “But Leeds have pace and real quality in the right areas. They have everything you need to get promoted.”
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