GOALS from David Nugent and Diego Fabbrini either side of a comical own goal by Giuseppe Bellusci gave Aitor Karanka his first Middlesbrough victory over Leeds United.

Boro were bidding to win their seventh match on the spin, a feat achieved 20 years ago under Bryan Robson in the Teessiders’ first season at the Riverside. But first, they needed to overcome a mini-hoodoo against Leeds.

Following Karanka’s first game in management where Boro were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road, the Spaniard has been unable to mastermind victory over Leeds, but Boro turned the tables spectacularly in a hugely impressive display.

Boro got off to the best possible start when Nugent nodded a long ball into Cristhian Stuani’s path, who drilled in a low cross for the former Leicester City striker to control and fire into the roof of the net, with three minutes on the clock.

Leeds centre-half Sol Bamba gave goalkeeper Marco Silvestri a worry when he chested Albert Adomah’s cross goalwards, the United goalkeeper having to tip wide.

But Leeds were not safe from their own defenders for long when Bellusci powered a diving header into the bottom corner from George Friend’s low cross on 32 minutes.

Leeds, unbeaten against Karanka’s Boro since the Spaniard took charge in 2013, rallied as the half progressed and had a smattering of half-chances courtesy chiefly of midfielder Alex Mowatt from distance.

But Boro could have been three-up at the interval when Stuani’s header was deflected wide from Stewart Downing’s cross.

Leeds’ determination to be a constant threat to their own goalkeeper continued into the second half when Bamba headed Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick skywards, leaving Silvestri scrambling to push the ball over the crossbar when it looked like dropping into the back of the net.

Dimi Konstantopoulos made a fine save on 53 minutes when he parried Mowatt’s left-footed free-kick wide as Leeds started to get into their stride.

And the Yorkshire outfit were convinced they had pulled one back moments later when Mirco Antenucci fired past Konstantopoulos. The Leeds striker was in an offside position but the linesman did not flag as it appeared to be a touch from a Boro player that put Antenucci in on goal.

Leeds shored up at the back and the following 20 minutes saw the type of attritional football associated with grudge matches between two sides where no love is lost.

But there was more to come from Boro as Leeds once again imploded. Bamba, looking to play a routine long ball from the back, missed the ball, slipped on his backside and Fabbrini, on as a substitute for Cristhian Stuani, capitalised fully. The Italian attacker rounded Silvestri and fired home from an acute angle.

HOW MIDDLESBROUGH FANS REACTED ON TWITTER:

Erimus Con Queso ‏@boroloony

"@Clayts15 You've got some engine Clayts, best defensive midfielder in the Championship by far. #unreal #destroyer #boro"

Peter Swallow ‏@CCfooty

"Leeds won’t catch us on a better day from their point of view. We were poor, but we didn’t have to be anywhere near our best #boro #lufc"

Daniel Bennett ‏@BennoUTB

"LOL Bamba!!! #LUFC #BORO"

James Arthur ‏@JamesArthur23

"We're going up, no other team in this league work as hard as the mighty @Boro #UTB"

Gareth Hancock ‏@gjhancock01

"Great game that today. We're really going to take some stopping with the squad that we have. #UTB"

Gary staton ‏@Gazstaton

"@Clayts15 you are our energiser bunny never stop going, well played mate #utb #heartbeat"