Boro leave it late

A master in the art of goal-scoring he may be, but Boksic has never been one to put himself out for his teammates.

The crack Croatian marksman, whose previous clubs included Lazio and Juventus, is used to service of the highest quality and demands it on tap.

To be fair, he hasn't always had it at Middlesbrough.

But the long-awaited opportunity to play alongside the type of attacking foil he has craved seemed to bring the best out of Boksic in Saturday's Riverside test against Champions' League aspirants Leeds.

Italian Benito Carbone made his Boro debut at the start of a three-month loan from Bradford City and ultimately provided the creative energy to force a successful fightback.

Boksic, who after falling victim to flu and then a calf injury, hadn't appeared since New Year's Day when he came on as a late substitute in the home win over Everton.

Again he was on the bench, but manager Steve McClaren later revealed that the 32-year-old striker had been disappointed he wasn't in the starting line-up.

This time, however, there was none of the usual brooding. Instead, Boksic was out on the pitch warming-up on his own before his introduction for the second half.

Boro were trailing to a brilliantly-worked 18th-minute goal by Eirik Bakke, who was unmarked at the far post to beat keeper Mark Crossley after Robbie Fowler had taken a clever back-heel return from Mark Viduka to supply the killer ball.

With a three-man central defence sitting deep, Boro had invited trouble from a Leeds side desperately seeking their first win in five Premiership games.

But McClaren, as he had done in the FA Cup triumph over Manchester United here two weeks earlier, decided on a tactical switch at the interval - and once more reaped the benefit.

But the Boro boss insisted it was a "change in attitude'', engendered by Boksic, that made the real difference.

"I thought Alen was tremendous,'' said McClaren.

"It was really just a change in attitude, epitomised by Alen.

"He is going to be absolutely vital to us between now and the end of the season. He was disappointed he didn't start, but I felt after around six weeks out and only ten days' training, he might be better coming on as an impact, and that proved the case.

"Not only did he cause Leeds problems going forward, but he was also chasing back and putting in an effort for the team.

"The players saw that and the crowd saw that, and I think it lifted us. I said to Alen that one of the reasons Benito has come in is because I felt we were missing a link - were weren't providing him with that creative through-ball.

"When Alen came on, he and Benito looked as if they will combine well. Strikers work in pairs and Carbone has the ability to see the pass. If he continues like this, it will have been well worthwhile bringing him here.''

Boro centre-back Gareth Southgate confirmed: "The gaffer changed the system and got into our ribs at half-time. There was a lot more fight and Alen gave us an outlet. He played well and worked extremely hard for the team as well. I think the whole team played a lot better and we caused Leeds more problems.

"They dictated in the first half - they could have been two or three up at half-time. It was a bonus to get in just one down.

"They have a lot of quality and I don't know why they can't finish sides off at the moment. They aren't far away from being challengers, but it will be difficult for them to get into the Champions' League now.''

That point isn't lost on Leeds. Slack marking allowed relegation-threatened Boro to equalise a second time and grab a precious point two minutes from the end when substitute Dean Windass was afforded a free header on the end of Carbone's left-wing corner.

Leeds' England defender Rio Ferdinand admitted: "We were rubbish in terms of not organising ourselves for that set-piece.

"We're very disappointed after leading twice and should have been comfortably ahead at half-time because we were running the game.

"Every team goes through a bad spell and we hope this is ours and that it's over. There's no better buzz than playing in the Champions' League, but if we keep getting the results we are now, the Champions' League will slip away.

"We're all fighting for the Champions' League and that fight won't be given up.''

The luck of the Irish, it seems, has deserted Leeds boss David O'Leary. On this occasion, it was a freak goal to haunt Nigel Martyn that brought Boro back into the game in the 51st minute.

The England keeper was deceived as he went down to meet Boro skipper Paul Ince's 25-yarder, only for the ball to hit a divot on the rutted surface and loop over him.

If Martyn is to be believed, Boro's financial problems for once worked in their favour. He explained: "Speaking to their guys, the club wanted to relay the whole of the 18-yard box, but they couldn't afford it because the funds have dried up!

"They could only do the six-yard box. The ball hit a divot right on the edge of the six-yard box and there was nothing I could do.''

Leeds' lead was restored four minutes later when Fowler performed a crafty back-header in Boro's six-yard box on the end of Ian Harte's curling free-kick, to claim his 11th goal of the season.

Martyn gained a measure of redemption when he turned away Noel Whelan's volley in some style, but moments later Boro levelled again to make it only one defeat in nine in all competitions.

Read more about the Boro here.