Crysencio Summerville's header was his eighth league goal of the season for Leeds, a tally matched later in the game by team-mate Joel Piroe
Leeds kept tabs on the Championship's top two by outgunning 10-man Middlesbrough in an end-to-end thriller to register a seventh successive Elland Road victory.
Headers from Leeds pair Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville - the two shortest players on the pitch - eclipsed Emmanuel Latte Lath's rifled opener for Boro, all inside the opening 10 minutes.
Joel Piroe's penalty, conceded by Boro substitute Matt Clarke within a minute of his introduction, put the hosts in command but Latte Lath's header gave the visitors a lifeline just before half-time.
Anfernee Dijksteel's dismissal for a second bookable offence hindered Boro's hopes of a fightback although they almost rescued a point when substitute Samuel Silvera's deflected strike hit the post.
Leeds remain third, seven points behind second-placed Ipswich, who also won on Saturday, while Boro, who conceded three goals for a third consecutive away game, slip to 12th but still just three points off the top six.
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- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsLeeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Meslier22Gray14Rodon21Struijk25Byram4Ampadu8Kamara20James7Piroe10Summerville24Rutter
- 1Meslier22Gray14Rodon21Struijk25Byram4Ampadu8Kamara20JamesBooked at 45minsSubstituted forGnontoat 82'minutes7PiroeSubstituted forGruevat 90+3'minutes10SummervilleSubstituted forAnthonyat 90+4'minutes24RutterBooked at 41minsSubstituted forBamfordat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Cooper9Bamford12Anthony17Shackleton27Poveda28Darlow29Gnonto39Spence44Gruev
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Dieng15Dijksteel3van den Berg17McNair24Bangura16Howson4Barlaser11Jones25Crooks10Rogers9Latte Lath
- 1Dieng15DijksteelBooked at 63mins3van den Berg17McNairSubstituted forClarkeat 36'minutesBooked at 37mins24BanguraSubstituted forEngelat 83'minutes16HowsonBooked at 37mins4BarlaserSubstituted forGilbertat 83'minutes11JonesBooked at 54mins25CrooksBooked at 67minsSubstituted forSilveraat 72'minutes10RogersBooked at 83mins9Latte LathSubstituted forCoburnat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Clarke14Gilbert18Silvera19Coburn22Coulson23Glover27Engel49McCabe50Cartwright
Referee:Darren EnglandAttendance:36,812Match StatsHome TeamLeedsAway TeamMiddlesbroughPossessionHome61%Away39%ShotsHome20Away11Shots on TargetHome9Away5CornersHome6Away3FoulsHome12Away15Live Text Post update
Match ends, Leeds United 3, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 3, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jaidon Anthony replaces Crysencio Summerville.
90'+3'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Ilia Gruev replaces Joël Piroe.
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Joël Piroe (Leeds United) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wilfried Gnonto with a cross.
87'Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
86'Post update
Hand ball by Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough).
83'Booking
Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
83'Post update
Archie Gray (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Alex Gilbert (Middlesbrough).
83'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Daniel Barlaser.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lukas Engel replaces Alex Bangura.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Patrick Bamford replaces Georginio Rutter.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Wilfried Gnonto replaces Daniel James.
81'Post update
Foul by Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United).
81'Post update
Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'Post update
Glen Kamara (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
81'Post update
Foul by Alex Bangura (Middlesbrough).
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Source: bbc.com