Boro: We were Robbied by Keane

But O'Leary was not about to concede the moral high ground after watching Boro bottle up the game and seeing Elleray turn down another loud penalty appeal when Lee Bowyer appeared to have been pushed in the back by Gianluca Festa on the hour.

The Leeds manager said: 'I can't believe what Terry has said. We dominated the game from the start but didn't do much about it. Boro had two attacks and scored from one of them.

'It was a dubious penalty, though the ball definitely hit his hand. But I couldn't believe that Bowyer's was not a penalty. From where I was it was definite and the player said as much back in the dressing-room. I even heard Boro's people in the dug-out saying "That's a penaltyî. Obviously, Terry didn't say that afterwards.'

A second spot kick - and Bowyer seemed to have a fair case according to television replays - might have been too much for Boro to bear after the kind of pragmatic performance that will win no friends but should influence their position in the final table mightily.

Boro, transformed almost beyond recognition in a few weeks by Venables' organisational powers, were content to allow Leeds possession for long spells, though a midfield that includes Olivier Dacourt as well as David Batty - not to mention the spiky Bowyer - is not one to be tangled with lightly.

Batty, starting his first Premier-ship match in 13 months, acquitted himself well enough in a Leeds performance that left much to be desired and reflected the downturn in fortunes that is bound to have an effect on players' confidence.

Boro, by contrast, have been given a massive injection of that most precious commodity by Venables' arrival and an unbeaten run that stretches for five matches, which at times yesterday looked set to be augmented by a third win following victories over Chelsea and Liverpool.

Leeds' flowing game, from the first part of the season, has been replaced, temporarily, by a less fluid version, at times peppered with simple errors. And it was one of these that led to Boro breaking the siege and stealing the lead after 27 minutes.

Aussie midfielder Paul Okon, his side's best player just ahead of Festa and Robbie Mustoe, delivered a fine through-ball but Lucas Radebe, restored to the Leeds team and captaincy by O'Leary, had not picked up Boksic and the Croat raced away, slotting his shot through Paul Robinson's legs before Rio Ferdinand could rescue the situation.

O'Leary said: 'A certain individual made a silly mistake and Boksic is a quality player but Boro hadn't earned the right to do it. I warned the players we couldn't afford to give Boro a breakaway goal but we are lacking in confidence. We need to get that first goal to give us a lift.'

Leeds escaped further embarrassment when lively Phil Stamp had yet another handball ignored by Elleray but went on to make a hash of his chance seven minutes from the end. It was the home team's turn to glare at the referee but their day could have been much worse.