Leeds United 2 Middlesbrough 1

Brian McDermott hailed in-form Ross McCormack after the striker was again on the mark to help Leeds back into the play-offs for the first time since September.

McCormack, who took his goal tally for the season to 13 in all competitions, opened the scoring against the club which had three bids for him rejected in August.

Although Mustapha Cara-yol equalised seven minutes into the second half for Boro, who were playing under new manager Aitor Karanka for the first time, Jason Pearce headed Leeds’ winner five minutes later.

Boss McDermott said: “We have tried to find a way to play with no wingers and to get Ross up field as much as possible.

“If he plays right up the pitch he will score goals.

“Every time he plays he looks as if he is going to score. There were bids for him but that is not really relevant because he wanted to stay at Leeds and never wavered.”

Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele was sent off shortly before the interval for charging out of the penalty area and bringing down striker Dexter Blackstock.

McDermott said: “Sometimes you are better playing against 11 men. We have found that in the past.

“It is psychologically harder against ten. We couldn’t get that third goal but the result was the most important thing.

“They could have had a man sent off for handball earlier but I’m glad they didn’t go down to nine. It’s good to be in the top six but I would rather be even higher. There is much more to come from the team.”

McDermott revealed that talks are under way with talented young midfielder Alex Mowatt over a new contract.

Mowatt is growing in stature with every game and McDermott said: “Alex is doing very well for us. Why would he want to go and play anywhere else?”

Karanka shrugged off Middlesbrough’s defeat in his first game in charge and hailed the attitude of his players as they battled with ten men.

The former Real Madrid defender is now convinced they can climb the Sky Bet Championship table and said: “It would have been better if we had won, but I am happy because we played very well in the second half when we were down to ten players.”

Karanka side-stepped questions about Steele’s dismissal.

“I prefer to talk about the team and how we were still in the game until the final whistle,” he said.

“I have had just ten days with the players but they have shown a good attitude and with that we can build.

“Even so, there may be changes for the next game, depending on what I see on the training ground.”