Leeds United boss Daniel Farke explains why Middlesbrough was ...

Daniel Farke was complimentary of Middlesbrough in the aftermath of Leeds United's 3-1 victory on Tuesday evening, explaining that the tactical intricacies of the game made it an exhausting night's work for him.

Goals from Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James and Brendan Aaronson sealed victory for the home side at Elland Road as they fired themselves back to the top of the Championship table. Dominant for the first half, Boro made more of a fist of things in the second half and looked strong for a short period after equalising through a Max Wober own goal.

In the end though, a combination of Boro’s own sloppy play to lose their grip of the game and offer their opponents encouragement, as well as Leeds’ ruthless edge and quality to then punish that, turned the game in Farke’s side favour.

Admitting he’d done his homework in the limited time between games, Farke said: “If I didn't prepare my players for Doak or Latte Lath it would be the wrong man in this chair. 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.”

Analysing the game in more detail, the Leeds boss continued: “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 2 or 3 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 were 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. Both teams are brave and made for attacking. We wasted a few too many chances but overall we created more than enough to win the game.”