Leeds hammer Middlesbrough to move to the top of the Championship

• Leeds United 4 Middlesbrough 0

Jonathan Woodgate suffered a horror return to Elland Road on his first trip as a manager, as his injury-hit Middlesbrough team were outclassed by rampant Leeds United, who surged back to the top of the table.

Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds head coach, was sympathetic to troubled Woodgate, but the home players were far more ruthless as they earned five wins in a row for the first time this season.

Former Leeds defender Woodgate looked unhappy on the sideline as the game slipped away, but might have been cheered up by home chants of “there’s only one Jonathan Woodgate” and “you’re Leeds and you know you are”.

The Middlesbrough manager needs to keep his own locals on side though, as their club were left a point above the drop zone in 20th place.

The north-east club gave their opponents too much time and space, helping them to their biggest win of the season.

“I can’t knock the effort,” said Woodgate after this thrashing. “Leeds have improved their squad massively. And we have lost a lot of players and replaced them with younger ones, ones from lower leagues. It’s difficult. But we keep fighting.

“Without a doubt, we need to do business in January. The chairman will be on the same page.”

Discussing how the home crowd reacted to him, Woodgate said: “It was an unbelievable reception. If Leeds get in the Premier League, it will be some train to get off.”

Veteran coach Bielsa had a chat with management rookie Woodgate at the end of this game and was careful not to criticise him in his press conference.

The Leeds head coach said: “It’s not a good idea to give an opinion [on Woodgate] after one game like this one but I believe that the players that weren’t there today were missed. Too many were out of the team to think that this was the real Middlesbrough.”

Woodgate was not the only one facing his former club, with Patrick Bamford getting Leeds under way by scoring early on against his former club.

Mateusz Klich added two of the other goals - including one stunning finish - and Helder Costa scored the other.

Leeds made a dominant start and their breakthrough came when Bamford had a header inside the six-yard box saved - but Pablo Hernandez eventually crossed the ball back for him to head in.

Bielsa could perch down and look on contentedly as his men kept on pushing. Woodgate and his assistant Robbie Keane, pacing around the visiting technical area with hands in pockets, looked less at ease.

Middlesbrough temporarily took the sting out of the game during the first half but Leeds became threatening again as half-time approached and duly doubled the lead. Klich scored the goal with a deflected strike off visiting captain Daniel Ayala.

That concession was bad timing for Middlesbrough - and things would only get worse.

Leeds were quickly on the front foot again early in the second half, as Jack Harrison and Bamford had shots saved.

Helder Costa then put them 3-0 up, cutting into the penalty area beyond some weak defending then finishing. Klich then struck his second with an eye-catching curling effort from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Match details

Leeds United (3-3-3-1): Casilla 6; Ayling 7, White 7, Cooper 6; Dallas 6, Phillips 6 (Berardi 83), Klich 8; Costa 7 (Alioski 77, 6), Hernandez 7, Harrison 7; Bamford 8 (Nketiah 80).

Subs: Miasek (gk), Douglas, Clarke, Stevens.

Booked: Bamford, Phillips.

Middlesbrough (3-5-2): Pears 7; McNair 5, Ayala 6, Fry 5; Howson 5, Wing 5 (Liddle 70, 5), Tavernier 5, Saville 6, Bola 5; Assombalonga 5 (O’Neil 77, 5), Fletcher 5 (Walker 90).

Subs:Mejias (gk), Clayton, Wood, Reading.

Booked: McNair, Ayala, Howson.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Bournemouth)

Attendance: 35,626.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford (Leeds)