Middlesbrough forward David Nugent has admitted that his side were not at their best in their 3-0 win over Leeds United.

Nugent got his side off to the perfect start when he fired them ahead in the third minute and an own goal from Giuseppe Bellusci extended their lead before the break.

The North-East outfit benefited from a disallowed goal when Mirco Antenucci thought he had brought Leeds back into the game early in the second half before Diego Fabbrini sealed the three points for Aitor Karanka's men.

"We scored the two early goals which give us a good lead but we had to get back into it second half," Nugent told the club's official website.

"We weren't at our best today but we won again. The last three games we haven't been at our best but we keep winning.

"We've got a five-point gap on third now so we just have to keep it going."

Middlesbrough moved within a point of Brighton & Hove Albion at the top of the Championship as a result of their win.