Neil Warnock registered a first win as Leeds manager after four attempts - his reformed side easing to a 2-0 victory at 10-man Middlesbrough in the npower Championship.
Robert Snodgrass was the man to bring Warnock his first goal since he succeeded Simon Grayson in February, dragging the ball underneath Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele in the 18th minute.
Luciano Becchio made it two just nine minutes later following a dreadful mistake by Justin Hoyte. Barry Robson's late dismissal in a tussle with Adam Clayton added insult to injury for Boro.
Becchio glanced a header across the box only for Ross McCormack to skew wide as the visitors poured on the early pressure, while Nicky Bailey drove aimlessly over Andy Lonergan's bar as Leeds sat deep, content to restrict their hosts to speculative efforts.
And in the 18th minute, Darren O'Dea sprayed a perfectly-weighted ball down the right flank for Aidan White. The Leeds-born winger dragged the ball across to the waiting Snodgrass, who slotted underneath Steele to register a first Leeds goal under Warnock's stewardship.
And less than 10 minutes after drawing first blood, Leeds doubled their lead.
Hoyte failed dismally to clear a Becchio through-ball, allowing its intended recipient McCormack to claim ownership and turn the ball across the goalmouth for the Argentinian to coolly convert from six yards.
The Leeds offensive showed no signs of abating as the second half got under way, although Middlesbrough's renewed vigour soon showed. Rhys Williams angled a bullet header just wide of a post as Robson lofted a fine free-kick across the goalmouth.
McCormack was just shy of dancing on to a White back-heel in the 73rd minute as Leeds sought to put the game to bed. But the result was surely beyond Middlesbrough as recent substitute Kevin Thomson took a kick to the head, to be replaced by Bart Ogbeche.
And in a final blow to Boro's chances of a late recovery, Robson was shown a straight red card for raising his hands to Clayton as time ticked away at the Riverside.
Source: PA
