By Danny Wright

Leeds United ensured Garry Monk of an unhappy return to Elland Road with a 2-1 win against Middlesbrough on Sunday to halt their slump down the Championship table.

Goals either side of the break from Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski earned Thomas Christiansen and his men a much-needed three points to end what has been an awful spell of form since September.

The Whites took the lead through Hernandez in the 24th minute after the Spaniard latched on to the end of a glancing header from Kalvin Phillips.

Alioski's tame cross was moved into the path of the on-rushing Hernandez, who slammed the ball into the back of the Boro goal.

Hernandez was involved again for the second half when his low cross found Alioski at the back post to double the lead.

Luke Ayling gave away a penalty for hauling Daniel Ayala to the ground in the box despite looking to have been fouled himself, which Britt Assombalonga tucked away.

Leeds hung on to victory though and as a result moved up to seventh in the Championship standings, level on points with sixth-placed Boro.

Here, Football Insider rates the players out of 10 for their performances against the Riversiders.

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Andy Lonergan - 6

Leeds fans were a bit bemused to see Lonergan starting between the sticks after his shocker of a performance against Brentford before the international break.

However Christiansen decided to keep the faith in the ex-Wolves goalkeeper and keep Felix Wiedwald on the bench.

The decision paid off with Lonergan keeping playing in a game where he made a couple of decent saves. He could have kept a clean sheet if the penalty decision didn't go against the Whites.

There's little doubt that the 34-year-old will be dropped for a return to Molineux to face his old side Wolves on Wednesday night.

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Luke Ayling - 5

Although it was not a penalty, Ayling deserves a low mark because his shocking behaviour almost cost Leeds of a much-needed win.

There was no need for him to haul down Daniel Ayala after being dragged to the ground himself - especially while the ball was in play.

The senior player has started every single Championship game this season and his place should be considered ahead of the Wolves clash on Wednesday if he is going to make stupid mistakes like that.

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Pontus Jansson - 7

Finally. Jansson looks like he is back to his best.

The Sweden international must have been on a high following qualification to the World Cup by beating Italy in the international break, and he showed that against Monk's men.

Jansson picked his moments perfectly. He was solid when he had to be, aggressive when he had to be and even fouled when he had to.

More performances like that from Jansson will help spark Leeds' resurgence back up the Championship table.

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Liam Cooper - 6

Cooper was back to his solid self against Boro and put to bed some of the doubters after a tough run of form.

The Scottish centre-back was formidable next to Jansson in the backline and will be delighted with helping Leeds get back to winning ways against their bitter rivals.

Cooper barely got a look in under Monk's charge at Elland Road and he will certainly have proved him wrong on Sunday.

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Gaetano Berardi - 6

Berardi showed a lot of good anticipation and timing when Middlesbrough were in possession but he really isn't a long-term solution at left-back.

You could tell when he got forward that the one-time Switzerland international was unable to help out too much due to him being a right-footed player being used on the left.

His wild shot at goal in the opening phases of the game showed that he is being misused in that position.

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Ronaldo Vieira - 7

There wasn't a blade of grass that Vieira failed to cover against Boro as he continues to build from strength to strength.

Vieira was barely used in the earlier parts of this season due to an injury and he showed just why Christiasen has missed him against Monk's side.

Eunan O'Kane was axed from the starting line-up ahead of the game and will be unlikely to work his way back into the side now.

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Kalvin Phillips - 7

A hint of good fortune for Phillips' assist to Hernandez to open the scoring in the first-half, but it was an assist nonetheless.

He added a lot of steel in the midfield that protected the back four very well throughout.

Even without his regular partner in crime Eunan O'Kane, Phillips managed the task well and was an important part in the win.

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Pablo Hernandez - 9

Hernandez was the catalyst that Leeds needed in attack.

The Spaniard made his former boss pay in the 24th minute when he started and finished a brilliant attacking move to put the Whites ahead by showing brilliant awareness and anticipation to latch on to Phillips' deft header.

In the second half he then played a beautiful ball into Alioski to double the lead.

It's a wonder how Christiansen isn't starting Hernandez every week because he is clearly one of the most technically gifted players in this Leeds team.

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Samuel Saiz - 8

Saiz once against showed why he was Christiansen's best signing in the summer with a masterclass in the No 10 role.

The ex-Huesca playmaker drifted into all the right spaces, supplying support to the wide men and Roofe, who started the game up front.

The Spaniard was cool and composed in possession and was a major problem for a sluggish Middlesbrough defence.

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Ezgjan Alioski - 7

Alioski is a great enigma for Leeds because you don't know what you're going to get from him.

At times the Macedonia international was lightweight and was making the wrong decisions but then in another spell he would be a true driving force behind the attack.

His hard work was rewarded with his second goal in as many games in the second half when he latched on to Hernandez's low cross.

Christiansen looks to have found the winning formula in his attack but fans will still want to see more from Alioski, who has the potential to flip games on their head if he wants.

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Kemar Roofe - 8

Roofe made more of an impact up front against Boro than Pierre-Michel Lasogga has done in his recent displays.

Although the former West Brom attacker hasn't been seen as a lone striker for most of his time at Leeds, he looked very comfortable in the role on Sunday.

He constantly hurried and troubled the Boro backline into giving the ball away and making mistakes - something which Lasogga has to do more.

Roofe's ruthlessness and never-say-die attitude was a large factor in Alioski's goal when he failed to give up on what seemed to be a lost cause to feed the ball into Hernandez.

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Caleb Ekuban - 6

Replaced Roofe in the 79th minute to cap a return from a fractured ankle he suffered in August.

Eunan O'Kane - 6

Republic of Ireland international came on for Sauz in the 88th minute after being dropped from the starting line-up ahead of the game.

Matthew Pennington - 6

Alioski was hooked in place of Pennington in injury time to shore up the defence in the closing stages.

In other Leeds United news, it has been revealed why Stuart Dallas and Lasogga were omitted for the game against Boro.

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