KILLING off opponents is the key to success in 2011 for Leeds United, according to striker Ross McCormack.

The Whites handed out Christmas gifts of a point apiece to Leicester City and Portsmouth, drawing after holding a two-goal lead in both games.

The 2-2 Boxing Day draw at Leicester and the 3-3 share-all with Pompey on Tuesday has seen United’s title push stall in the npower Championship.

However, McCormack, preparing to welcome Middlesbrough to Elland Road tomorrow (1pm), is convinced the squad will learn from their chastening festive double.

“The games come thick and fast.

Hopefully we can put the Portsmouth result to bed by getting a good result against Middlesbrough,” he said.

“It’s disappointing because in the last two games we’ve thrown away two-goal leads.

“We’re still a young side, though, and the experience will stand us in good stead. We have a good fighting spirit.

“Sometimes we open up a bit too much when we’re in front. If we’d kept our foot on the ball for five minutes or so after the third goal against Portsmouth the game would have been done, but they scored straight away and it gave them belief.”

Manager Simon Grayson added that he was frustrated by the dropped points, but looked at the positives.

“It was another strange one,” he said. “We had opportunities to see it through.

“But there’s plenty of positives there. We’re still unbeaten and I was happy with large parts of the performance against Portsmouth.”

Grayson may recall Neil Kilkenny to the side to face Boro.

The Australian midfielder, who will be on Asia Cup duty in Qatar in January, was rested – on four bookings – for the Portsmouth game.