Leeds 1-0 Middlesbro

	Harry Kewell and Robbie Stockdale do battle (Pic/Empics)

After 63 minutes of the kind of stalemate that encourages all those watching to think of their summer plans, one 21-year-old, Robbie Keane, set up another, Alan Smith, in a manner out of character with the rest of the proceedings at Elland Road.

There was a touch of good fortune in the build-up when Gareth Southgate reached a long clearance from Nigel Martyn, only for the ball to skid off his head.

But from then on it was all down to the two young strikers, given a rare start together through the absence of established front pair Robbie Fowler and Mark Viduka, both injured.

Keane flicked the ball over his head and Smith was onto it in a flash, smashing it into the net on the half-volley.

It made the vast majority of a full house very happy - and none more so than Keane, put through by Harry Kewell after only three minutes but sending his effort across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

The game badly needed a spark. Dominic Matteo promised one when he went forward after 57 minutes to direct a header towards the net only for the defiant Southgate to block on the line.

But it was only a brief reprieve for Middlesbrough, who rarely threatened despite periods of control and ended the campaign as they began it with a run of four Premiership defeats.