Full-time: Middlesbrough 0 Leeds United 1

MIDDLESBROUGH missed the chance to extend their advantage at the top of the Championship as Leeds United condemned them to a first home defeat since August.

Alex Mowatt’s third-minute goal was enough to end Boro’s nine-game unbeaten run in the league and prevent the Teessiders from adding to their one-point advantage over Bournemouth and Derby County, both of whom play later this afternoon.

Mowatt drilled into the bottom left-hand corner after a poor throw out from stand-in goalkeeper Tomas Mejiias had conceded possession.

Mejias’ error was not the first he has made this season, and the Spaniard’s jittery display stood in marked contrast to the performance produced by Leeds goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, who was outstanding throughout.

Silvestri made a string of crucial saves, and while Boro’s overall performance was reasonably impressive, the hosts will be infuriated that they did not make more of a succession of decent opportunities.

Kike, Jelle Vossen and Albert Adomah all saw first-half efforts saved as Silvestri ensured his clean sheet would remain intact.

As usual, Aitor Karanka rung the changes before kick-off and sprang a number of surprises with his team selection.

Tomas Kalas partnered Ben Gibson at centre-half, with Kenneth Omeruo dropping down to the bench, Emilio Nsue was switched to right-back, and Vossen partnered Kike in attack with Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford both named among the substitutes.

In total, there were six changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw with Birmingham on Wednesday, but if Karanka was hoping his new-look side would hit the ground running in their local derby, he was left shaking his head inside the opening three minutes.

Mejias replaced the suspended Dimi Konstantopoulos in goal, but having made a number of errors in the early stages of the season before he was relegated to second choice, the Spaniard erred again to hand Leeds their opener.

His attempt at a quick throw out was intercepted by Lewis Cook, his ball inside found Mowatt, and the midfielder’s shot found the bottom left-hand corner of the net via a slight deflection.

It was a dreadful start for the Teessiders, but Boro went on to dominate the rest of the first half. However, with Silvestri inspired in the Leeds goal, they were unable to claim an equaliser.

Jelle Vossen was the hosts’ key man, regularly dropping into the hole between midfield and attack to claim possession and thread balls through the Leeds back four.

The Belgian threatened to go close in the fifth minute, only to miss his kick as he attempted to latch on to Grant Leadbitter’s quick free-kick, and Silvestri made the first of a number of fine saves as he beat away Kike’s fierce low shot in the 11th minute.

The Leeds keeper was at it again nine minutes later, turning Vossen’s first-time shot around the post after Emilio Nsue’s right-wing cross had exposed the Leeds defence.

Vossen thought he had scored moments after, but while his prodded shot from Adam Reach’s left-wing cross crept past Silvestri, Giueseppe Bellusci was able to hack the ball clear before it trickled over the line.

With Boro throwing men forward at every available opportunity, Leeds were on the back foot throughout the first half, but Silvestri got the ball just ahead of Vossen to prevent the striker reaching Adomah’s cross and then produced his best save of the afternoon to deny Kike.

Kike’s shot deflected off Scott Wootton after the Spaniard cut in from the left, but Silvestri displayed excellent agility to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Silvestri’s final save of the first half saw him push away Adam Clayton’s low 22-yard effort, but having barely threatened at all after claiming the lead, Leeds should really have doubled their lead in stoppage time before the interval.

Sol Bamba was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as he met James Murphy’s corner, but the defender’s glanced header drifted well wide.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, with Kike fashioning an opening within the opening minute. Again, though, Silvestri was alert to it, getting down well to tip the ball around the right-hand post.

The Italian also saved from Adomah in the early stages of the second half, but in between times, Boro were fortunate not to concede a second goal.

James Murphy delivered a free-kick from the right, and Scott Wootton powered a close-range header against the crossbar with Mejias beaten.

With Boro throwing more and more men forward, there were more second-half gaps for Leeds to exploit, but still the action was concentrated in the visitors’ half of the field.

Karanka threw on Tomlin and Bamford and effectively allowed his side to play in a 4-2-4 formation for most of the second half, but still the goal would not come.

Silvestri had a lot to do with that, saving well from Vossen in the 67th minute, but centre-half Bamba was also superb for Leeds, with one second-half block in particular to deny Kike especially impressive.

Boro’s afternoon got even worse in the final five minutes of the game as Vossen was forced off on a stretcher after a clash of heads on the halfway line.

The Belgian was prone on the floor for a lengthy period as he was treated by Boro’s medical staff, and his departure meant Boro had to finish the game with ten men.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Mejias; Nsue (Bamford 66), Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Adomah, Leadbitter (Forshaw 79), Clayton, Reach (Tomlin 57); Vossen, Kike.

Subs (not used): Ripley (gk), Husband, Omeruo, Whitehead.

Leeds (4-5-1): Silvestri; Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci (Cooper 90), C Taylor; Byram, Cook, Austin, Murphy, Mowatt; Morison.

Subs (not used): S Taylor (gk), Cani, Berardi, Sloth, Antenucci, Sharp.