Mixed feelings for Michael Carrick on a night where Middlesbrough should have lost heavily, could have snatched a point, and in the end found themselves rueing Dan James’ affordable second-minute opener for a victorious Leeds United.
While both Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford had goals wrongly disallowed during a nightmare evening for both linesmen – Daniel Farke may be forgiven for enquiring if Specsavers offer a ‘two-for-one’ deal – this was a game in which so many potential scorelines felt possible up until the final whistle..
Leeds United, really, should have been 3-0 victors at the Riverside. They have the officials, rather than their recent spate of wasteful, to thank for that.
In the end, the promotion favourites were forced to hang nervously onto a narrow one-goal lead as Middlesbrough ramped up the pressure and the clock ticked agonisingly beyond the 94th minute.
As it transpired, Dan James’ 12th Championship goal of the season was enough to see Leeds leapfrog Burnley and Sheffield United and reclaim their spot at the summit. After the winger scored a spectacular equaliser at Luton, this was a poacher’s finish the division’s finest number nines would have been proud of.
Michael Carrick pays Dan James tribute after Leeds United frustrate Middlesbrough
With both of Daniel Farke’s talismanic wingers somewhere close to their best once again, Manor Solomon delivered for Dan James to tap home.
The former bursting down the left and rolling his delivery across the six-yard box. The latter somehow squeezing his leg between a stretching Samuel Iling Junior and the ball.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick coached the £25 million Wales international during their time together on the other side of the Pennines at Manchester United.
He is, at least, pleased to see a player much-maligned earlier in his career blossom into one of the most consistent matchwinners in one of British football’s most high-pressure environments.
“He’s a great lad, Dan,” Carrick says. “He has developed himself into a massive player for Leeds. He makes a difference for them.”
“[But] it was a bad goal all round. It was poor in terms of a team goal, with our shape and what we were trying to stop. It was pretty much everything we tried to stop, we let happen in the end.
“That was disappointing, so early in the game. Credit to them, they took it with a fast attack and that’s what they’re good at. It was similar to ourselves in many ways.
“That was something that the boys bounced back from and got to grips with the game. It would have been very easy for the game to get away from them, they’ve got some really good players who have played a lot of Premier League football.”
James has been ‘frustrated’ by some of his Leeds displays this term. A tally of 12 goals and nine assists, however, is most definitely something to be proud of.
Leeds weather Riverside storm as Boro’s play-off push takes a hit
Speaking of ‘Premier League football’, Dan James and co will be guaranteed a place back amongst the English football elite next term should Leeds win all of their five remaining matches.
As Burnley were held by relegation-threatened Derby County and Sheffield United followed up that Oxford coupon-buster with a home defeat by Millwall, Farke’s side seized control of their own destiny.
Middlesbrough, in contrast, will fall out of the play-offs if Coventry City defeat Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Carrick can take some solace, though, in the fact that Middlesbrough put Leeds under considerable pressure with Kelechi Iheanacho and Delano Burgzorg both swapping their shooting boots for clown shoes.
“After [James scored], we were a bit more disciplined, positive and aggressive. We were more expressive in our play, and I thought we caused them a lot of problems,” adds the former Champions League winner.
“We’re disappointed with the result, and I think that shows where we are as a team.
“Obviously, we didn’t score. But to create those opportunities, I think it’s probably the most that I’ve seen Leeds be put under pressure for a long period of time.A lot of the play and the creating of the opportunities was really, really good.
“Of course, it’s that final action that in the end if the difference. They found it, and we didn’t quite find it. The boys are really disappointed that we haven’t taken anything from the game.”
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