By David Kent for MailOnline
Published: 15:03 GMT, 9 February 2019 | Updated: 15:20 GMT, 9 February 2019
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Leeds aren't falling apart after all. The obituaries to their wavering promotion hopes were being penned when, in the 101st minute of a breathless encounter, Kalvin Phillips headed an equaliser which may prove to a crucial turning point of their campaign.
Other than at Lazio, where his reign lasted two days, teams managed by Marcelo Bielsa have a record of consistently under-performing in the second half of a season.
That pattern looked set to continue as a fifth defeat in seven games beckoned until Phillips diverted home Liam Cooper's knockback from an Ezgjan Alioski corner to end Middlesbrough's increasingly desperate attempts to protect their lead.
Kalvin Phillips popped up after 100 minutes of play to crash home a crucial header for Leeds
A medical emergency on the Leeds bench required medics and caused lengthy late stoppage
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Ayala, Flint, Fry, Shotton, Mikel, Saville (Clayton 78') Friend, Wing (Besic 64'), Howson, Hugill (Assombalonga 77')
Subs unused: Konstantopoulos, Fletcher, Downing, van La Parra
Goal: Wing 47
Booked: Saville
Leeds: Casilla, Ayling (Shackleton 80'), Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Harrison, Roofe, Klich (Roberts 58'), Clarke (hernandez 45'), Bamford
Subs unused: Peacock-Farrell, Brown, Davis, Halme
Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire)
Att: 30,881
A relentless front-foot approach to both training and matches has clearly taken a physical toll on a squad not over-blessed with strength in depth, but to their immense credit Leeds displayed their mental strength to earn a deserved share of the spoils to return to the summit of the division, at least until Norwich host Ipswich tomorrow.
Middlesbrough have hardly been blazing a trail in the form stakes either, but they make up for in dogged determination what they lack when it comes to aesthetically-pleasing football to remain very much in the thick of the promotion race despite only two wins in their last 11 league games at
