A night when visiting fans lamented the absence of VAR was infinitely more uncomfortable for Leeds than it should have been but still ended with Daniel Farke’s team top of the Championship.
Farke was furious to see two “goals” from first Ao Tanaka and then Patrick Bamford disallowed for imaginary offsides but his players somehow resisted a late attacking blitz from playoff-chasing Middlesbrough to move ahead of Burnley on goal difference.
Thanks to a second-minute winner from the impressive Dan James, Leeds are two points clear of third-placed Sheffield United in an uncomfortably tight, almost unbearably tense, automatic promotion race.
If Farke’s post-match relief was palpable, the same went for his frustration with the linesman Darren Williams, who he claimed had chalked off three obviously legitimated Leeds goal in the past eight weeks. “I’m normally on the side of the referees,” he said. “But I’m struggling with this same assistant. If they were difficult decisions I could live with this coincidence … but when its three or four yards [onside].
“I wouldn’t say they are the most difficult so why send him to Leeds games. I don’t think he intends it but he needs protection. Promotion to the Premier League is such a big reward, we are playing for so many millions of pounds.”
Middlesbrough hope to secure such riches via the playoffs but securing a place seems touch and go for a side that slipped to sixth after Leeds swiftly undid Michael Carrick’s high defensive line.
If Junior Firpo’s initial through pass was good, Manor Solomon’s expert dodging of Anfernee Dijksteel bewildered the rest of Boro’s backline. The resultant confusion left a stretching James to evade his supposed marker, Samuel Iling-Junior, and flick the resultant low, hard, cross beyond Mark Travers.
The Tees glistened in glorious April sunshine when Leeds arrived at the Riverside and the travelling fans waiting to greet them muttered nervously about a demoralising run of one win in the previous six games.
By now though darkness had descended and James, menacing almost every time he touched the ball, sensed real opportunity and soothed visiting nerves. With the Wales winger repeatedly unwinding his sprinter’s legs Travers did well to prevent him scoring a second.
Boro had registered five wins in their previous seven games and enjoyed plenty of possession here but Leeds allowed them to have the ball in areas where, initially at least, they could do minimal damage.
Admittedly Tommy Conway did turn the ball beyond Karl Darlow, again preferred to Illan Meslier in goal, from close range after meeting the fallout from a miscued corner but that effort was correctly disallowed for offside.
In marked contrast, Tanaka had cause to feel wronged after directing Solomon’s cross past Travers only to see his celebrations ended abruptly by a faulty offside call.
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Farke, after viewing replays on his pitch-side monitor and realising Tanaka was onside, placed his head in his heads before subjecting the fourth official to a volley of righteous indignation.
Farke’s mood was hardly helped by the creeping realisation that Boro were gradually fathoming out ways of concluding their hallmark pleasing passing sequences with killer final balls.
Carrick possesses some good players, the talented midfielder Hayden Hackney foremost among them. Hackney’s ability to pass quickly with pace and urgency began threatening the Leeds defence as he brought the best out in Delano Burgzorg and Finn Azaz, creating chances for both forwards.
Farke responded by turning to his bench and Bamford, with his first touch, slide the ball into the back of the net at the end of a fine counterattack involving his fellow substitutes Isaac Schmidt and Wilfried Gnonto.
If Bamford thought that scoring against a former club would mark the end of almost 12 injury-blighted months he was wrong as that assured finish was ruled out for offside. Again replays showed it was the wrong decision.
The good news is that he appeared fit and sharp. Farke believes that the loss of his No 9 to a knee injury at the Riverside almost exactly a year ago cost his team promotion. Maybe, just maybe, Bamford has returned at the right moment to help Leeds over the line this time.