NEIL REDFEARN hailed Leeds United’s “desire and togetherness” as they stunned Championship leaders Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium.

Alex Mowatt’s third minute goal, a deflected shot off Ben Gibson that flashed past a stranded Tomas Mejias into the bottom corner from just outside the box, gave the Whites the victory.

But they were indebted to goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, who made a series of impressive stops to ensure they kept their slim advantage.

Time and time again the Italian keeper came to the rescue as Leeds rode their luck, particularly in the first half, in the face of a relentless red tide.

But backed by their keeper’s heroics, alongside a determined rearguard effort, it was Redfearn’s men who continued their climb up the table thanks to their fifth win in six games – and inflicted on Middlesbrough their first home defeat in six months.

Redfearn said: “They are a good side but I thought at every turn there was a Leeds United player in the way. We are on a great run and it was a great performance.

"There was a real togetherness and we are growing as a team. I thought there was an application and desire to win."

On Silvestri, he added: “He’s capable of that. It was a match-winning performance. He made some outstanding saves.

"He was probably the best player on the pitch and that goes to say how well Middlesbrough have played. But it was a great performance from one to 11. We defended right from the front. I thought we broke well off their midfield and it worked well."

Silvestri was continually called into action from the moment Leeds went in front. Beating away Kike’s effort a dozen minutes in, he then did brilliantly to turn Jelle Vossen’s volley round the near post.

He denied the forward again seconds later – getting his legs in the way of a close range stab – as Boro pressed hard for a leveller.

His best save came just after the half-hour mark, magnificently tipping Kike’s shot over the bar from the left edge of the area.

Silvestri also denied Adam Clayton, parried a curling Kike shot early in the second half for a corner and produced another sensational stop with his legs at his near post on 69 minutes after a brilliant Boro move opened up the Leeds defence.

Leeds had only one shot on target in the first half - they would strike the bar early after the restart -  but, come the conclusion, it was the only one that mattered.

The match was marred by a serious-looking head injury to Vossen that brought nine minutes of stoppage time and forced the home side, who had made all three substitutions, to finish the game with ten men.

Middlesbrough: Tomas Mejias, Emilo Nsue (Patrick Bamford, 66), Tomas Kalas, Ben Gibson, George Friend, Grant Leadbitter (Adam Forshaw, 79), Adam Clayton, Albert Adomah, Adam Reach (Lee Tomlin, 56), Jelle Vossen, Kike.

Leeds United: Marco Silvestri, Scott Wootton, Sol Bamba, Giueseppe Bellusci (Liam Cooper, 90), Charlie Taylor, Sam Byram, Rodolph Austin, James Murphy, Lewis Cook, Alex Mowatt, Steve Morison.

Referee: Andre Marriner

Attendance: 25,531