Middlesbrough strengthened their hold on second place in the Championship by seeing off Leeds United 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium.
It took a little over two minutes for Boro to open the scoring thanks to David Nugent's close-range strike.
Giuseppe Bellusci headed into his own net to double the home side's advantage, before a costly Sol Bamba slip allowed Diego Fabbrini to round things off nine minutes from time.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Middlesbrough and Leeds United at the Riverside Stadium.
This match concludes the latest batch of fixtures in the Football League, pitting together two sides who will be eager to pick up maximum points once more. For Boro, they have now won each of their last six games in all competitions, while Leeds still have just the one league defeat next to their name.
Before taking a look at this fixture in some more depth, let's first check out some team news from the North East...
TEAM NEWS!
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos; Kalas, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Downing, Adomah, Stuani; Nugent
LEEDS UNITED XI: Silvestri; Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor; Adeyemi, Cook, Mowatt, Botaka; Dallas, Antenucci
One name in particular stands out on the team sheet, and that is the inclusion of youngster Jordan Botaka. It is a first professional start in the famous Leeds colours for him, while Gaetano Berardi, Giuseppe Bellusci, Tom Adeyemi and Mirco Antenucci are all recalled for the visitors.
In terms of the home side, they can call upon both Christian Stuani and Daniel Ayala for this one, who were both thought to be touch-and-go fitness wise. The fearsome Boro attack line, which is spearheaded by David Nugent this afternoon, means that there is no room for Diego Fabbrini in the starting lineup.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Gibson, Kike, De Pena, Nsue, Fabbrini, Forshaw
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Turnbull, Wootton, Cooper, Murphy, Phillips, Byram, Doukara
As well as the aforementioned Fabbrini, Boro can also call upon the likes of Adam Forshaw, Kike and summer recruit Carlos de Pena should they need to. That strength in depth will likely prove invaluable as the gruelling season progresses, but Leeds also have options of their own with the likes of Sam Byram and Souleymane Doukara no doubt raring to go.
David Nugent, who has two goals in his last three outings, starts up top for an in-form Middlesbrough side this afternoon
As already touched upon already, Middlesbrough enter this fixture on the back of an impressive run of form. Four league wins on the bounce, or six in all competitions if you would rather, has seen Aitor Karanka's men get their campaign firmly back on track over the past month or so.
It seems like a while back now, but the Smoggies actually made a rather indifferent start to the campaign you may remember. Five points from the first 12 on offer saw them off the pace by the end of the opening month, yet this winning run has changed that completely and they are now flying high in second place.
DID YOU KNOW? Middlesbrough have won 14 of their last 17 home matches, while they have not conceded more than one goal in a game at the Riverside since August 2014 (3-2 defeat vs. Sheffield Wednesday).
That stat goes a long way to showing just how tough a task this will be for Leeds United, but Uwe Rosler has certainly made his side tough to beat. Just one defeat in all, coming at home to Ipswich Town a fortnight ago, has made this a decent enough start all things considered.
Four draws on the bounce - or four points from a possible 12 - is hardly the form of a side with eyes on potential top-six challenge, though. Those early-season stalemates have been followed up by a mixed bag of results, but three points away at MK Dons last time out suggests that Rosler is slowly beginning to work his magic.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Boro have won just one of the last seven fixtures between these two sides, losing five and drawing one during that run. In fact, Leeds have not conceded more than one goal in the last 10 meetings, conceding just six goals in total.
Both sets of players have now made their way onto the field, with kickoff just a matter of moments away. It seems like a good time to offer a prediction; I'm backing Boro to come out on top 2-0 in an efficient manner to close the gap on early pacesetters Brighton & Hove Albion a little more.
Some nice stats courtesy of Sky Sports News to whet the appetite a little more, as we await kickoff in the North East
KICKOFF! Leeds, who have fared well here in recent times, get us underway at the Riverside Stadium in their traditional white strip.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 LEEDS UNITED (DAVID NUGENT)
With just 122 seconds on the clock, Middlesbrough take the lead through David Nugent. It was created by Stuani, who twisted and turned on the right before picking out his teammate just a couple of yards from goal, and Nugent made the most of United failing to clear their lines by turning the ball home.
Impressive start to the game for Boro, then, who managed to edge themselves ahead before the contest could find any sort of rhythm. Not a lot has happened since Nugent's strike, in fact, as both teams try to settle themselves in.
Well the goal aside, it has been a very slow start to the game. Neither side able to create any sort of opening yet, but there is no denying which of these two sides will be the happier.
SAVE! Middlesbrough put together a strong attacking move, which culminates in Adomah crossing into a central position. Bamba had the simple task of clearing away, but he got his connection with the ball all wrong and if not for a fine Silvestri save it would have been 2-0.
"One Steve Gibson!" comes the chant from the home supporters, who perhaps sense that this season may finally be the one in which they reclaim their place back in the big time. It has been a fine start overall, and one that looks set to get even better on the basis of these opening 13 minutes or so.
The Smoggies have not allowed their opponents to settle into this game inside the opening 15 minutes, instead remaining on top of possession and creating the game's only two chances - one of which led to the breakthrough goal.
Bellusci has a bit of a howler at the back, scuffing the ball straight to an opposition player, but the Italian defender gets away with it. Still just the one goal in it at the moment, but Boro look to be closing in on a second.
SHOT! Much better from Leeds, who have just worked away their first shot on goal. Berardi slipped in Antenucci, but the forward had the angle against him and could not force Konstantopolous into making anything other than a regulation stop at his near post.
Mowatt has been down receiving some treatment over the past couple of minutes, but he is all bandaged up and seemingly ready to play on. Byram watches on from the bench as his potential stand-in.
Boro have been very quiet over these past 10 minutes or so, and a sloppy pass allows Leeds to tighten their grip on things. The Whites have been on top for a while now, without causing their opponents any real danger in the final third.
Charlie Taylor looks to pick out a teammate with a dangerous cross from the left, which is well cut out in the middle by Ayala. Leeds need to make the most of this positive spell of possession.
SHOT! Leeds supporters making a fair bit of noise in their section now, as Tom Adeyemi drives forward and gets a shot away. Simple enough stop for Konstantopolous once more right down the middle.
Boro just need to get a grip on proceedings again following a quiet spell stretching back pretty much as far as their opening goal. Leeds seem to be growing in confidence on the back of Adeyemi's attempt.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 2-0 LEEDS UNITED (BELLUSCI, OG)
Just when Leeds were building some momentum, Boro stage a rare attacking move which ends with Bellusci putting the ball into the back of his own net. It was a real howler from the defender, too, diving in to send a bullet header from a George Friend cross beyond the reach of his keeper. Shocker.
Stuani was shown a yellow card just before that goal for a challenge on Charlie Taylor. Karanka will likely have the luxury of taking some players off at this rate.
SHOT! Another Leeds shot, but another which is all too easy for Konstantopolous to deal with. The former Brentford man cut in from a wide position and had a pop right down the middle.
SAVE! Konstantopolous this time has to make a 'proper save', diving across to his right to push aside Mowatt's drive. A good response from United, who are desperate to find a route back into the game before the interval.
Boro look as though they are going to score each time they get bodies forward. A delicious cross into the box caused all sorts of problems, before eventually falling nicely to Stuani six yards from goal to try an acrobatic overhead kick. It sailed narrowly wide, but the offside flag was up anyway.
Adomah cuts through Leeds with too much ease, but his pass into a central position is cut out. Up the other end Mowatt strikes a few metres wide of goal in a free-flowing end to this first half.
Bellusci, who is hardly having his finest hour, leans into Nugent with a stray elbow to concede a free kick near the halfway line. Boro patiently make their way forward, with another decent cross from a wide area landing at the feet of Stuani, but he could not capitalise. Decent half-chance, that.
Amorebieta finds the ball at his feet inside the area with plenty of time to shoot, only for his effort to be blocked away. The rebounds makes its way to Downing, who delivers another exceptional cross to the back-post area, but Stuani could only pick out the side-netting.
We are into the second of four added on minutes at the end of this first half, with Boro looking the side more likely to add to the scoring tally.
Bellusci sprays a poor pass too deep for any of his teammates to latch on to in a wide area, which is likely to bring this half to a close.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 2-0 LEEDS UNITED
All very straightforward for Boro heading into the break, then, as they hold a comfortable 2-0 lead over Leeds at the Riverside Stadium.
It took just over two minutes for the Smoggies to get up and running, courtesy of an early David Nugent strike to set them on their way. Bamba nearly put the ball into his own net to make it 2-0, but his blushes were spared by Silvestri between the sticks.
Silvestri had no chance of keeping out Bellusci's rather comical own goal, though, as the Italian centre-back sent a bullet header beyond the reach of his compatriot to double the hosts' advantage on 32 minutes.
Leeds had a few shots in the first half, looking strong when in possession for a 10-minute period, but only once was Konstantopoulos truly forced into making a meaningful save.
A reminder of the back-up options available to both managers at the break. You get the impression that it is Rosler, rather than Karanka, who is more likely to change things around ahead of the second half.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Gibson, Kike, De Pena, Nsue, Fabbrini, Forshaw
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Turnbull, Wootton, Cooper, Murphy, Phillips, Byram, Doukara
It was too easy for Middlesbrough at times in the first half, so an improvement is vital from Leeds as both sets of player emerge back out of the tunnel
RESTART! No changes made by either side at the break, as Boro get us back underway at the Riverside Stadium.
A very good intervention by Charlie Taylor denies Adomah, who was clean through on goal if not for the full-back's tackle. Leeds earlier failed to capitalise on a free kick in a promising crossing position in what has been a lively start to the second period.
Bamba seems determined to join teammate Bellusci in scoring an own goal. His looping header was dropping under the crossbar, if not for Silvestri who palmed it over.
SAVE! Mowatt, who has been his side's best player today, comes close to bending a free-kick into the top corner. Konstantopoulos was equal to it, though, palming the ball over the bar to safety.
Antenucci and Dallas exchange passes, before the latter is just edged out to it by the Boro stopper. Leeds looking much better since the restart.
GOAL DISALLOWED! What a huge moment in the game this is. Antenucci latches on to a stray shot and coolly slots the ball home. Leeds quickly charged back to the halfway line, but the referee went over to speak to his linesman and between them the goal was ruled out for offside.
Having now seen the replay, that did appear to be a harsh call as far as the visitors are concerned. The Whites are certainly fired up now, however, which should set us up for a better spectacle. Meanwhile, Fabbrini has come on for Stuani.
CHANCE! Leeds really are dominating things now, but they are failing to capitalise on these openings. Botaka's cross was met by Antenucci just a few yards from goal, with his header right down the throat of Konstantopoulos.
What Leeds would give for Chris Wood right now to finish these openings off. Boro unable to get a grip on things at the moment, as United close in on a breakthrough goal of their own.
Boro restoring their grip on the game over these past couple of minutes, perhaps killing off any momentum Leeds had built up with it. A goal from the visitors really would change the whole complexion, though.
LEEDS SUB! Souleymane Doukara replaces Jordan Botaka at the Riverside Stadium with around 25 minutes left to play.
MATCH ACTION! Middlesbrough's David Nugent celebrates with his teammates after scoring the opening goal of the game against Leeds United
Things have gone awfully flat over the past 10 minutes or so, with nothing of any note happening at either end of the field. Leeds have lost all that momentum they had built up, with the disallowed goal proving costly to any hopes they had of rescuing a point out of this one.
Leeds knocking the ball around in midfield, without actually putting together any meaningful attacks. This contest has fizzled out badly.
Still absolutely nothing happening on the field. A few passes here and there, but no openings. Konstantopoulos has just plucked a Leeds cross out of the air, which is about as good as things have got.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Adomah's afternoon comes to an end, with Nsue coming on in his place for these final 14 minutes or so.
YELLOW CARD! Ayala earns himself a needless booking for lunging in on Antenucci. A decent shooting position this for Leeds from the resulting free kick.
The free kick comes back off the wall and is cleared to safety, neatly summing up the last 20 minutes of action.
LEEDS SUB! Luke Murphy replaces Stuart Dallas for these final nine minutes. Can United find a late goal to put the pressure on their second-place opponents?
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 3-0 LEEDS UNITED (DIEGO FABBRINI)
Well if the points were not secure beforehand, they certainly are now. Leeds hit the self-destruct button for a second time, with Bamba's costly slip on the edge of his own box allowing substitute Fabbrini to casually round the keeper and blast into an empty net.
An own goal and a captain calamity has cost Leeds any hope they had of registering another point this afternoon. Boro can now just pass the ball around and run down the clock before celebrating a seventh win on the bounce in all competitions.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! A sign of Boro's strength in depth here, as Adam Forshaw comes on in place of Grant Leadbitter with the points firmly in the bag.
Antenucci has a late attempt at goal, which is blocked away. Leeds have missed Wood this afternoon; a player you would fancy to have scored from at least one those few half-chances early on in this second half.
Three minutes of added time left to play, as Leeds struggle to break their opponents down. This one has been over as a contest for a while now in truth.
United lacking any real urgency as we enter the final throes of this match. They will remain camped in mid-table following the latest batch of matches, while Boro have strengthened their grip on second place.
FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 3-0 LEEDS UNITED
All very comfortable for Boro in the end, then, as they make it seven wins on the bounce now in all competitions. It took a little over two minutes for Boro to open the scoring thanks to David Nugent's close-range strike. Giuseppe Bellusci headed into his own net to double the home side's advantage, before a costly Sol Bamba slip allowed Diego Fabbrini to round things off nine minutes from time.
There was one major talking point in an otherwise disappointing second half, as Mirco Antenucci had a goal ruled out for offside after it had initially been awarded.
Well that concludes our live text updates of this weekend's Football League action, but be sure to stick around as we will provide coverage from the evening Premier League meeting in a short while.
