Hell hath no fury like an Elland Road scorned. It started before the teams had come out of the tunnel. ‘F*** Garry Monk,’ was the chant. Before quarter of an hour had elapsed, Jimmy Savile had been brought into it.
Safe to say that the Leeds supporters were not buying their former manager’s claims last week that he left because the long-term contract he craved was not forthcoming and that decisions were being made without his input.
This was not a happy return. Pablo Hernandez’s first half strike and Ezgjan Alioski’s second half carbon copy sealed victory for the former employers before a controversial Britt Assombalonga penalty set up a tense finale and raised temperatures further.
Ezgjan Alioski wheels away in celebration after making it 2-0 nine minutes into the second half
Pablo Hernandez toasts his 24th-minute goal in front of the home supporters at Elland Road
Boro had started well, and appeared to be unlucky when Assombalonga was bundled over in the box from a corner with no spot kick forthcoming.
Stewart Downing then brought a flying save from Andrew Lonergan, high to his left, with a 25-yard piledriver.
But it was the hosts who took the lead when Kalvin Phillips flicked on Alioski’s cross for Hernandez to crash the ball into the roof of the net at the far post. The celebrations were immediately followed by the Monk chant.
The man himself will have been more concerned with what was unfolding in front of him. Leeds were the better team, and seized a firm grip in midfield in a nip and tuck opening half.
Liam Cooper headed wide a Hernandez free-kick and a scoreline of 2-0 would not have flattered the hosts at the interval.
The home side had lost their last three matches and this old cauldron was, underneath the red-faced bluster, gripped with unease.
Leeds supporters wave club flags ahead of the Championship clash at Elland Road on Sunday
Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala gets to grips with Kemar Roofe during the first half
Leeds’ Gaetano Berardi wins a header despite the close attentions of Marcus Tavernier
They welcomed the level of performance in the first stanza. Six defeats in seven games have killed Thomas Christiansen’s bright start, while Monk’s Boro sat in the final play-off place just three points better off.
Getting into the Premier League is the be all and end all. Football has changed. Take a look at Stoke City’s following on Twitter (874,000) and then check out Leeds’s (318,000).
In Monk’s reasons for leaving, there was no mention of parachute payments, and the impact they can have when chasing paradise.
At Boro, money has been spent and, after a stuttering start, Monk returned here with his side in form following three straight victories but Leeds appeared to be in control.
Hernandez slides to score from close range after Kalvin Phillips flicked on Alioski’s cross
Leeds’ Spanish winger Hernandez celebrates after scoring the opening goal from close range
Hernandez is congratulated by compatriot Samuel Saiz after putting the home side in front
Following the break, young prospect Marus Tavernier, highly rated by Monk, could only hit high over the bar from a tight angle but seconds later the Leeds lead was doubled.
Roles were reversed from the first goal with Alioski connecting emphatically with Hernandez’s cross. It almost got worse when Samuel Saiz was given the freedom of West Yorkshire but his low drive hit the post with Darren Rudolph beaten. This time, it was ‘sack Garry Monk’.
A rare sign of life from Boro came when Martin Braithwaite’s volley was cleared off the line before Leeds skipper Liam Cooper could only head a Hernandez free-kick wide with the visitors’ offside trap in disarray.
Britt Assombalonga was unfortunate not to have a first-half penalty after being brought down
Martin Braithwaite competes for the ball in midfield with Leeds youngster Ronaldo Vieira
Thomas Christiansen (left) protests in his technical area during Sunday’s Championship game
A lifeline came courtesy of the assistant referee, whose flag brought a penalty for Boro and a deluge of plastic flagsticks from the Leeds fans behind the goal. A new enemy in town.
The ruling appeared to be that Luke Ayling had brought down Daniel Ayala, but replays suggested the Leeds man had acted after he had been grabbed by the neck and taken to the floor in the first instance by his opponent.
Assombalonga made no mistake from the spot, sending Lonergan the wrong way to set up a nervy finale. Braithwaite saw his shot deflected narrowly wide before board came up to inform of seven additional minutes.
Ayala headed over Downing’s corner but there was to be no equaliser on a miserable afternoon for Monk. Leeds deserved their win.
Alioski is delighted after scoring what proved to be the winning goal against Middlesbrough
Assombalonga fires home from the penalty spot to ensure a nervy finish at Elland Road