IF only . . .

That is a phrase that will haunt Bryan Robson and his men as they assess Saturday's clash against Leeds.

The game gave Middlesbrough the perfect chance to show that they were not all talk, no trousers when it came to demonstrating their potential to be successful.

But they now know they still have a lot of hard work to do yet to bridge the gap and didn't help themselves with a sloppy start.

If only they could have kept things tight at the beginning and forced Leeds to chase the game and sap their energy which was by no means boundless after their Champions League victory over 1860 Munich in midweek.

If only Robson had kept faith with talented teenager Joseph-Desire Job and a 3-4-3 system which had served them well in two promising opening games against Coventry and Spurs.

If only Paul Okon had told his boss that he had injured himself in the opening minute. The result was a broken foot, which left the Australian midfielder almost pedestrian in a fast-paced encounter.

If only Robson had sent on Noel Whelan before the 65th minute when it was clear Hamilton Ricard was having one of those days when nothing was going to go right, no matter how hard he tried.

And if only Alen Boksic had passed a fitness test because the Croatian striker has the ability to unlock the tightest defences!

Boro were and should be kicking themselves that they did not do much better, especially when they know they can.

"We really felt we could get something from this game," admitted Robson. "I said to the lads that we had to keep it tight early and the longer we went on, we were going to put them under pressure because they were going to have to tire.

"And they did, so if we could have stayed with them earlier on we could have taken advantage of that.

"The first 15 minutes when Leeds got the two-goal advantage was the last thing we needed.

If you give any team a two-goal advantage, never mind a team at the top end of the Premiership, it's very difficult to chase it.

"We showed a lot of spirit to come back in the second half and that shows good character, but Leeds would have been unhappy if they had not left without three points."

True, title-chasing Leeds are a quality side and there's no doubt that they will rip many teams in the Premiership apart with their pace and power this season.

But there's no doubt that Boro showed them too much respect in the early stages and paid the penalty.

If there's one thing that the top teams don't like - and any team come to that - it's when they have to face a barrage of attacks and are not allowed to get into their stride.

West Ham and Southampton proved that at the weekend as they got at Manchester United and Liverpool in their respective games and salvaged a draw when the cause seemed lost.

Boro could have achieved the same result after going 2-0 down within 12 minutes.

But they lacked the courage and conviction in the early stages to put Leeds under pressure and see how they handled it.

Instead David O'Leary's talented troupe waltzed into a commanding lead with a good old one-two.

First Lee Bowyer ran on to a clever touch from Michael Bridges and sent a blistering low 20-yard drive arrowing into the corner of the net in the sixth minute.

Before Boro had time to get off the ropes, they were hit by a low blow which was harsh, but still counted.

Keith O'Neill carelessly gave away the ball to Olivier Dacourt and the powerful Frenchman drove forward and, after getting the ball back from Bridges, crashed a 20-yard shot goalwards.

It struck the on-running Alan Smith and flew into the net to leave Mark Schwarzer helpless. Smith knew little about it, but there'll be no taking away his fifth goal of the season - and all in just four games too.

After Okon had hit the side-netting with a 20-yard drive, Bowyer linked with Bridges again and curled an instinctive shot over the bar when his second of the game seemed likely.

Robson reacted immediately and brought O'Neill off for Job and reverted back to the 3-4-3 system.

It did the trick as suddenly Leeds had to become defensive with Job making himself a constant nuisance and Christian Karembeu prompting all the time.

He may still be learning, but he still has that freshness and unpredictability which leaves defenders dithering.

His arrival sparked Boro into life and after a first half of much confusion, the Teessiders at last looked as if they knew what they were doing.

They repeatedly pressed the Leeds backline, but the Yorkshire side showed why they are going to be challenging for the top honours once again this season.

Every player works like trojans to cover every area and their defence built a wall of defiance to protect keeper Nigel Martyn and keep Boro at bay.

So many times Boro worked good openings, but when a goal beckoned, back came a Leeds player.

The 68th minute summed that up when Paul Ince burst into the box and had his shot blocked by Lucas Radebe, the ball rebounded to Job and his effort was also blocked by Dacourt.

Brian Deane swung the loose ball back into the box and Ince powered in a header which Martyn clawed away and Gary Kelly completed the job with a goal-line clearance.

It was cruel, but Boro's fighting spirit was rewarded in the 82nd minute when substitute Whelan swung in a free-kick from the right and Steve Vickers and Gary Pallister set up Phil Stamp whose 15-yard shot flashed into the net, via a deflection off Michael Duberry.

It was too little, too late though as the closing minutes saw them push forward in vain for that vital equaliser.

After Schwarzer had kept out a stunning 20-yard strike from Matthew Jones, Boro went to the other end and Job latched onto a great ball from Colin Cooper. His fierce shot was spilled by Martyn, but Deane was crowded out by a posse of defenders as he tried to pounce.

If only . .

Goals

Bowyer (6 mins, 0-1), Smith (12, 0-2), Stamp (82, 1-2).

Bookings

Ince, Cooper (fouls).

Referee

Graham Barber (Tring, Herts).

Attendance

31,626.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Lee Bowyer - great engine, great skills and great goal. The watching Kevin Keegan must have been impressed by his all-action display.

LEEDS (4-3-3):

Martyn 6,

Kelly 7,

Woodgate 6

(Radebe 23, 6),

Duberry 6,

Harte 7,

Dacourt 7,

Bakke 6

(Jones 18, 6,

(Mills 86, 6),

Bowyer 8,

Bridges 7,

Viduka 7,

Smith 7.

Subs (not used):

Huckerby, Robinson.

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2):

Schwarzer 6,

Vickers 6,

Pallister 6,

Cooper 6,

Fleming 6,

Karembeu 7,

Ince 6,

Okon 6

(Stamp 76, 6),

O'Neill 5

(Job 38, 6),

Deane 6,

Ricard 5

(Whelan 64, 6).

Subs (not used): Summerbell, Crossley.