Middlesbrough striker David Nugent has admitted that Leeds United were "the better team" in the second half of their Championship game at the Riverside Stadium, even though the hosts secured an emphatic 3-0 win.

An own goal from Giuseppe Bellusci, coupled with strikes either side of the break by Nugent and substitute Diego Fabbrini secured all three points for the home side.

Statistics at the final whistle showed that Leeds had 12 shots to Boro's six, while also boasting 59% of the possession.

Nugent told Sky Sports News: "We got off to a fast start against Forest (last weekend) and that seemed to help us out a little bit. Today we got the two early goals which gave us a nice lead.

"Leeds came back into it in the second half, they were the better team, but Diego Fabbrini killed it off with the third. We were grateful for that because Leeds were coming back into the game."

The result means that Boro sit just one point behind Championship leaders Brighton & Hove Albion in the table.