Leeds United emerged victorious in a tense match against Middlesbrough, winning 4-3.
After three games without a win earlier in April, nothing mattered more than leaving Middlesbrough with three more points.
Leeds now have 90 points after defeating Middlesbrough 4-3 at the Riverside.
Boro 3-4 Leeds: Luke Ayling watches Whites’ victory from the stands.
Middlesbrough headed into this game with a number of injury concerns, which were exacerbated by two new absentees, Sam Greenwood and Luke Ayling, who are of course ineligible to face their parent club after leaving in the summer and January, respectively.
Ayling in particular was a setback for Michael Carrick, who now has few full-back options and has five assists since joining on loan in the winter.
Prior to the match, Ayling was noncommittal on who he wanted to win, telling Sky Sports that he wanted “football” to prevail.
Ayling believes Middlesbrough “battered” Leeds. – Podcast host
Ayling’s current allegiances clearly indicate that he would have wanted ‘Boro to come away with three points to help them finish the season on the best possible note.
According to Matt Rowney of The Boro Breakdown Podcast, after greeting fans outside the Riverside after the game, Ayling thought the home side were dominant:
Leeds were not beaten; it was even.
In both games this season, Middlesbrough has brought out the best and worst in us, both in and out of possession.
You couldn’t tell they didn’t have anything to play for from their passion, and the quality in the last third of Latte Lath and others is absolutely something they can improve on.
I don’t think Leeds were battered; we could have scored a couple more in the second half through Dan James, Bamford, and Summerville.
However, such a comment will undoubtedly help Ayling gain favor with their supporters.
