Jonathan Woodgate provides Ashley Fletcher and George Friend injury updates after Leeds United defeat

Boro suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Riverside after Mateusz Klich scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.

The Teessiders produced an improved performance against Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion chasers compared to their recent defeats against Luton and Barnsley.

When asked about the game, Woodgate said: “Miles better than the last two games, light and day between the two performances. If we play like that we will be fine because everything was there, work ethic, determination.

“Okay at times on the final ball was poor but I thought we matched them really well.”

Boro did cause some problems on the break through the pace of Matcus Tavernier, yet the midfielder’s final ball often let him down.

“You can say that about Tav but I tell you what he’s got is courage,” added Woodgate. “Especially when the fans are having a moan and a groan.

“At times he gives the ball away but I tell you what he gets back on it again and doesn’t shy away from it and takes responsibility and is a leader, that’s what I want to see from my players.

“I want to see if my players give it away, they get on it again. Tav did that.”

On his side’s quality in the final third, Woodgate added: “At times the quality wasn’t great but we need to create chances for the frontmen to score goals.

“We created chances tonight, I wouldn’t say glaring opportunities but we created chances and we have done for most of the season.

“The last few games, especially against Barnsley, we didn’t but apart from that we have done.”

Woodgate also felt his side should have been awarded a penalty when Lewis Wing’s free-kick hit Stuart Dallas in the Leeds wall.

“I thought it was a clear hand ball, it didn’t get given so you move on.” said the Boro boss.

Woodgate also confirmed both Ashley Fletcher and George Friend were forced off with hamstring injures yet the severity is unknown.