Leeds United boss 'exhausted' by 'complicated' Middlesbrough with players namechecked

LEEDS United boss Daniel Farke said he was left "exhausted" by the "complicated" mental challenge of overcoming Middlesbrough at Elland Road.

Farke was delighted with what he felt was a thoroughly deserved victory for his side but praised "brave" Boro for their approach to Tuesday night's game.

Boro were second best in the first half and trailed to Wilfried Gnonto's opener but improved after the break and levelled thanks to Max Wober's own-goal.

Boro then had a spell on top in the game but failed to take advantage and Leeds secured the win with goals from Dan James and Brenden Aaronson.

Farke was pleased with the way his players dealt with Boro's dangermen but opened up on the challenges of preparing for and playing against Michael Carrick's side.

"If I didn't prepare my players for Doak or Latte Lath it would be the wrong man in this chair," he said.

"We didn't have too much time to prepare but we spoke a lot. It's always one key topic, they have strikers who are scoring goals for fun and Doak who is creating a lot. But you can't just focus on those players. There's McGree, Burgzorg, Azaz - an excellent player. It was important to be there as a team.

"It was a complicated game for me because they play with so many principles and processes. You always have to be switched on to change our structure and positioning. It was one of the most exhausting games for me this season and I was delighted to see us get the points."

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough promotion assessment as gaps grow to Leeds and rivals

• Carrick's upbeat verdict on Middlesbrough's Leeds loss & 'loads of good things' claim

Despite Boro's positive spell in the second half, Farke felt the outcome was right and fair.

He said: "First of all I want to congratulate Middlesbrough for a really good away performance, a really positive performance. That makes our win sweeter because we played against an excellent side and fully deserved to win,

"It was a really good first half and the feeling was in such a tight game we wasted a few too many chances in the first half. Normally when you have a game on this level you have to use these moments. We should have been two or three up at half-time.

"It was the first time in ages where we'd been pushed back a bit and had to concentrate on the counter attack. There was 10 or 15 minutes in the first half when our structure against the ball was not correct.

"We corrected this at half-time to be a bit more compact really and allow them more possession but not chances.

"But after conceding such an unlucky equaliser it's difficult to turn the tide of the game again but that's what we did.

"We still missed some chances but you could see the goal coming. It was a top class finish from Daniel James and then we didn't allow them anything after that.

"You just have to look at Middlesbrough's record and their bench, how much firepower was sitting there. They've scored so many goals and have so many offensive players.

"We wanted to make them suffer. It was also clear they'd have periods where they put pressure on us. This team is brave and made for attacking. We wasted a few too many chances but overall we created more than enough to win the game."