WHAT an evening for Middlesbrough. As if finally completing a deal for long-term transfer target Tommy Conway was not sufficient, the Teessiders also dumped Leeds United out of the Carabao Cup courtesy of a barnstorming display at Elland Road. If a certain lager brand made nights for football clubs, they might go something like this.

Let’s start with matters on the pitch. Michael Carrick made seven changes to his starting side, yet Boro contemptuously brushed aside a Leeds team that started the season as strong favourites to win the Championship title. Whisper it, but might Boro replace them at the head of that market before too long?

They certainly looked like promotion contenders this evening, with second-half goals from an inspired Anfernee Dijksteel, an energetic Delano Burgzorg and a clinical Josh Coburn securing their place in the second round. Dijksteel was a revelation all evening, tearing down the right flank, while Burgzorg and Isaiah Jones sparkled on the counter-attack in the second half. Leeds were falling apart, but there wasn’t much they could do about it.

Boro’s dynamic second-half showing came a matter of minutes after news of Conway’s imminent signing broke. Their pursuit of the forward has dragged on for a number of weeks, but a resolution was finally achieved yesterday that should see Conway become their fifth summer addition.

The Teessiders have agreed a deal worth around £4.5m with Bristol City, with Conway set to undergo a medical later tomorrow. A 22-year-old Scotland international, who has been attracting interest from half of the clubs in the Championship, Conway’s signing provides further evidence of Boro’s continued ambition. Having set their sights on an in-demand target, Boro’s recruitment team, led by head of football Kieran Scott, once again appear to have got their man.

Conway will be joining a side brimming with confidence, and already eyeing another lengthy Carabao Cup run. Last season, Michael Carrick used the early rounds of the League Cup to give much-needed game time to some of the players that were not featuring in the league, with matches against Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford and Exeter proving crucial to the development of Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath in particular. On tonight’s evidence, there are plenty of players who could use the competition to make similar strides this term.

The presence of Sol Brynn in goal was interesting – for all that Carrick insists there is no clearly-defined goalkeeping pecking order, neither the returning loanee nor Tom Glover will be happy with regularly being third-choice – while Dijksteel’s presence at right-back meant Luke Ayling’s emotional return to Elland Road started with a spell on the bench. When he eventually came on in the 56th minute, he was cheered by all four sides of the ground.

Boro were one goal to the good at that stage, although they had to survive an early scare when Junior Firpo was left in a huge pocket of space in the box, with Brynn saving the full-back’s low shot with his legs.

That opportunity came in the first three minutes, and the pace of the game did not really let up all night. Leeds shaded things in terms of possession, and looked a threat early on as they poured numbers into the Boro box, but the Teessiders quickly began asking questions of their own as they sprung players forward on the counter-attack.

Burgzorg and Jones were key outlets in their respective positions on the flank, with the latter delivering a dangerous cross on the half-hour mark that was only cleared to a loitering Aidan Morris. The American midfielder drilled in a crisp 20-yard strike, but Karl Darlow got down smartly to gather.

Boro went close again a couple of minutes later, with Coburn spinning neatly away from his marker before shooting into the side-netting after Matt Clarke’s pass sent Lukas Engel galloping away down the left. Coburn has been the subject of transfer interest involving Millwall and Stoke City in recent days, with his future beyond the end of the month likely to be influenced by the outcome of Boro’s ongoing pursuit of Conway. With Conway’s arrival expected to be confirmed before the weekend, Coburn’s days as a Boro player could be numbered.

Mind you, the same was being said of Dijksteel earlier in the summer. It might just be the first week of the campaign, but last night, the full-back scored what is likely to remain a long-term contender for Goal of the Season.

Picking the ball up close to the right touchline, Dijksteel set off on a dribble infield. He went past Brendon Aaronson. He went past Firpo. Then he went past Joe Rodon. And just as Max Wober stepped out to try to close him down, he held his composure to curl a brilliant low finish into the far corner. It was the Suriname international’s first goal in a Boro shirt, indeed it was his first of any description since scoring for Charlton in a 4-0 win over Scunthorpe in 2019. You suspect this one will live rather long in the memory.

Dijksteel almost turned provider a few moments later, teeing up Burgzorg for a shot that was saved after breaking into the box, but Boro’s summer signing from Mainz did not have to wait much longer before crowning his first competitive start for his new employers with a goal.

Coburn’s through ball sent Burgzorg racing clear, and after turning inside Rodon, the Boro forward fired a clinical finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

The 4,000-strong travelling support was in dreamland, but even was to come seven minutes later. Boro returned Darlow’s aimless clearance back downfield, and while Jones’ shot was blocked by a sliding Ethan Ampadu, the ball broke kindly for Coburn, who was able to slot home.