David O'Leary believed that only a Martian could have failed to agree that his team deserved to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

And, for the first half at least, it was clear that Leeds were on a different footballing planet to Middlesbrough.

That gulf between the two sides indicated why Middlesbrough have attempted to revive their bid - a package in excess of £10million - for Real Madrid outcast Steve McManaman.

Chief executive Keith Lamb thrust the issue back into the spotlight with a few carefully chosen words in his programme notes designed to provoke a response from the McManaman camp after more than a month of illuminating silence.

He said: 'Bryan Robson and myself have met with Real Madrid's directors and a fee was agreed. Steve is still under contract and is undecided about his future.

'We respect that. The next move is down to Steve and he must decide what is right.'

The best immediate move for Middlesbrough, who were top of the Premiership at kick-off, would be to make sure that no video of this game finds its way to the Spanish capital.

Boos rung around the Riverside Stadium in the first half in response to the disjointed nature of the home side's football. Those already lured by the attraction of the club's expansive wage structure, with the exception of the injured Alen Boksic, have clearly failed to win over a sceptical audience.

Christian Karembeu was outshone by Lee Bowyer, while Australian Paul Okon was denied the chance to make an impact by fracturing a bone in his foot in the early stages of the game, an injury which could rule him out of the Olympics next month.

Robson said: 'It was really disappointing the way the midfield players started the game. If we had stayed with them, we could have taken advantage of the fact that they had a difficult game during the week.

'I've just found out that, in the first minute, Paul Okon broke his foot and didn't realise it. He's got a nasty fracture. It will probably mean he will miss the Olympics and no matter how bad the break is, it's going to be six weeks at least.'

While Middlesbrough continue to attempt to attract the services of McManaman, O'Leary goes from strength to strength with a side seemingly willing to sweat blood for the cause, although ankle injuries to Eirik Bakke and Jonathan Woodgate will further test their squad resources.

By the time their legs started to wilt, following their European Cup exertions in Germany, coinciding with the introduction of Joseph-Desire Job who joined a three-man attack to provoke a sustained period of Middlesbrough pressure, Leeds had already done more than enough to win the game.

Their first goal typified their slick passing and movement, with Michael Bridges' speed of thought and foot a constant focus.

His immediate control and lay-off allowed Bowyer to thrust at the heart of the Middlesbrough defence before sweeping home a low right-foot shot after six minutes.By the 12th minute the lead had doubled thanks to the tenacity of French midfielder Olivier Dacourt.

He rode a Paul Ince challenge, danced past Karembeu and unleashed a powerful drive which cannoned into Alan Smith and past the helpless Mark Schwarzer - the striker claiming his fifth goal in four games so far this season.

The Leeds goal was rarely under serious threat during Middlesbrough's spirited rally until Nigel Martyn parried a close-range Paul Ince header and then, with eight minutes remaining, substitute Phil Stamp fired through a packed area following a Gary Pallister knockdown.

O'Leary said: 'We deserved to win today and we were superb. Europe is a bonus and this - the Premiership - is where we want to excite and entertain and win. This is what matters to me. Before or after Europe, this is what we want to do well in.

'Unless you were a Martian you must have thought we deserved to win. It would have been a crime if we had only got a draw out of that.

'But the performance they gave in midweek meant we ran out of steam and got a bit sloppy near the end.'

The Leeds manager wasted no time in sharing those opinions with Dacourt in an animated discussion as the players walked off.