By James Pearson | Click here for match stats

Leeds United's stay in the top flight looks to be hanging by a thread after their 3-0 thoroughly-deserved defeat to Middlesbrough left them adrift at the foot of the table.

Both sides went in at the break on level terms, however second half strikes from Boudewijn Zenden, Joseph-Desire Job and a penalty from Michael Ricketts sealed an easy win.

Whites' boss Eddie Gray was forced to bring on keeper Scott Carson for his debut, after referee Graham Poll dismissed Paul Robinson for bringing down Ricketts in the penalty area in the closing stages.

Leeds were boosted before the start of the match with Danny Mills, on loan at Boro from The Whites, opting out of playing against his parent club.

It was the visitors who made the early running, adapting to the poor conditions sooner than their hosts, with Gaizka Mendieta firing over from a set-piece after Matthew Kilgallon brought down Juninho on the edge of the area.

Boro continued to push forward with Robinson coming out of his goal swiftly to close down Massimo Maccarone down the left, before Zenden flashed an effort wide.

The closest any side came to opening the scoring was when Robinson parried Mendieta's driven shot into the air, with the England keeper responding swiftly by palming the rebound away from Juninho.

Leeds then came into the game with Jermaine Pennant charging down the right and Eirik Bakke's surging runs just penning Boro on the back foot for a shot time.

Juninho had the last shot of the half, but after breaking clear of marker Michael Duberry, the Brazilian blazed his right-footed effort well wide of goal.

After an even first 45 minutes, Boro assumed swift control of the game when Zenden latched onto Maccarone's through ball and slotted the ball past Robinson into the near post.

Seth Johnson scuffed his effort at the other end and that was punished when Job burst away and used the time and space to round Robinson and put the game beyond doubt.

Leeds' painful afternoon was compounded when substitute Ricketts added a third, handing the home side the their fifth straight league defeat.

The former Bolton Wanderers striker was up-ended by Robinson as he tried to beat the keeper and he scored with aplomb from the resulting penalty past Carson, who was soon picking the ball out of the net.

Team Name	Leeds United	Middlesbrough
Goals	0	3
Shots on target (Inc Goals)	1	5
Shots off Target	7	8
Blocked Shots	6	5
Corners	7	6
Foul Conceded	16	10
Offsides	3	7
Yellow Cards	1	1
Red Cards	1	0