Middlesbrough 0 Leeds United 1 - Mateusz Klich lifts Whites to battling win at the Riverside

Leeds United earned a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening at the Riverside to boost their promotion hopes.

Marcelo Bielsa was forced into one change for the midweek clash as Kalvin Phillips was ruled out of action.

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was passed fit as Gaetano Berardi replaced the midfielder with Jean-Kevin Augustin also missing the clash with a minor muscle injury.

It was the visitors who started the better of the two sides and really should've opened the scoring inside 10 minutes.

Former Riverside native Patrick Bamford broke free in the six-yard box and was picked out by a Luke Ayling cross.

The Leeds striker could only power his header straight at Aynsley Pears who was to have an action-packed opening half.

Stuart Dallas then himself had a glorious chance to score as Pablo Hernandez found his run to the penalty spot but Pears again was equal to it down to his left.

Boro were very much playing on the break and could count themselves a little lucky as referee Gavin Ward waved away a penalty shout after Helder Costa was brought down by Adam Clayton.

United, though, finally had their goal in the first minute of added time at the end of the opening half.

The Whites broke at deadly pace as Bamford found Hernandez on the edge of the box. The Spaniard curled an effort onto the post which found it's way back to Mateusz Klich.

The Poland international played a clever one-two with Hernandez before rifling a shot in off the post to send the travelling fans into delirium at the interval.

United continued after the break in very much the same vein as they searched for a second.

Dallas again tested the Boro goalkeeper before Hernandez struck a thunderous shot which was tipped wide of the mark.

Leeds had another penalty claim waved away as Harrison was clipped to the floor as he drove into the box with the visiting fans convinced it was a foul.

Woodgate's men did come close to levelling as Marcus Tavernier smashed the bar following good work from winger Hayden Coulson but failed to really threaten.

Bielsa's outfit held on to claim all three points with Klich's strike enough to earn a third win on the bounce in league action.

Middlesbrough: Pears, Friend (Johnson), Moukoudi, Shotton, Coulson, Clayton, Tavernier, Saville (Nmecha), Wing, Howson, Fletcher (Assombalonga). Subs: Mejias, Spence, McNair, Morrison.

Leeds United: Casilla, Ayling, Dallas, Cooper, Berardi, White, Klich, Costa, Harrison, Hernandez (Shackleton), Bamford. Subs: Meslier, Casey, Alioski, Douglas, Stevens, Roberts.