Leeds United 0 Middlesbrough FC 3: Ruthless Boro highlight Whites' flaws and their own credentials

Wednesday's 3-0 League Cup win at Elland Road came in a game between two sets of fringe players but both showed similar characteristics to the stronger XIs their managers fielded at the weekend.

Leeds dominated possession but would go on to concede three for the second time in a half week as Boro counter-attacked with real venom and finished with aplomb.

And whereas the hosts created enough chances that their wastefulness still yielded three goals against Portsmouth on the opening weekend of the Championship season, Middlesbrough are made of stronger stuff defensively and even with Emmanuel Latte Lath rested until the game was effectively won, outshot and outscored them.

It appears Bristol City striker Tommy Conway will soon be added to their arsenal too, with reports during the game that Boro have had a bid accepted.

Leeds had more than two thirds of the first-half possession but their football was tidy, not terrifying. Their need for a new striker looks greater than Boro's.

Michael Carrick's team look well drilled and stable, building on the platform of a strong end to last season.

Inside the first five minutes Sol Brynn and Karl Darlow both made decent saves from tight angles to deny Junior Firpo and Delano Burzorg respectively. From the corner that resulted from the second of them, Josh Coburn flicked a header wide.

Sam Byram nodded a Joe Rothwell free-kick over but in open play Leeds were not getting enough balls into the box. When Joe Gelhardt, stationed on the right wing, did, no one anticipated it.

After absorbing a long spell of pressure, Boro threw some punches back, Aidan Morris forcing a low save and Coburn firing into the side netting after a nifty turn.

It took five minutes for Boro to break Leeds in the second half, with an excellent goal from Anfernee Dijksteel.

Both these managers like their full-backs to lead attacks and Dijskteel was able to pick up a throw-in and dribble to the edge of the penalty area, then along it, before curling a lovely left-footed shot beyond Darlow.

Burgzorg, on loan at Huddersfield Town last season, nearly doubled the lead within minutes, forcing a save after Dijksteel fed him, then lashing the rebound wide.

But Leeds were rattled, and with Middlesbrough inspired, Burgzorg was not to be denied.

When Ethan Ampadu was mugged in midfield, Coburn dropped off the front to play a lovely ball to the striker, who raced away, turned inside Joe Rodon as he sprinted over to cover, and scored a first goal for his new club.

Boro were lethal on the counter-attack against Leeds' high line, Isaiah Jones sprinting away and dinking the ball over Darlow, but wide.

Daniel Farke made a quintuple substitution but Boro simply made it 3-0 in the 68th minute with another counter-attack.

Dijskteel won the ball from Darlow's free-kick and gave it to Jones, who played a one-two with Gilbert. His shot deflected to Coburn, who scored.

Substitute Georginio Rutter hit a post in the 83rd minute and Joel Piroe, who headed the rebound from that wide, just failed to stretch to a ball in from the right in stoppage time. But it was never going to be enough to deny Boro their moment.

"We're going up," sang the jubilant away fans shortly before the home supporters booed their side off. It is very early days to say that, but they are certainly heading in the right direction.

Leeds United: Darlow; Byram (Gruev 63), Rodon, Wober (Struijk 69), Firpo (Bogle 63); Rothwell, Ampadu; Gelhardt (Gnonto 63), Piroe, Aaronson (Rutter 63); Bamford.

Unused substitutes: Meslier, James, Joseph, Crew.

Middlesbrough: Brynn; Dijksteel, Howson (Ayling 56), Clarke, Engel (McCormick 70); Jones (Hamilton 81), Barlaser, Gilbert, Burgzorg (Azaz 70); Morris, Coburn (Latte Lath 81).

Unused substitutes: Hackney, Glover, Cartwright, Hunt.

Referee: A Backhouse (Carlisle).