Leeds United midfielder Toumani Diagouraga feels his side's performance in a 0-0 home draw with Middlesbrough proves the Whites can compete with any team in the Championship.
The match was a scrappy affair in the opening 45 minutes, but both sides did have chances to score. Middlesbrough did have the ball in the back of the net on the 20-minute mark, with Jordan Rhodes converting, but the referee ruled it out after judging the ball to have gone out of play before the cross to the striker.
And Leeds almost took the lead when Ritchie de Laet nearly sent a Charlie Taylor corner into his own net.
Both sides produced energetic displays as the second half wore on, but Leeds had the better of the match, though Rhodes did go close, heading wide from close range after being put off by an onrushing Marco Silvestri.
The Boro goalkeeper was also in good form with Dimi Konstantopoulous turning the ball away from a Souleymane Doukara effort. It was a stunning save from the custodian, who palmed a Doukara header past the post.
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Middlesbrough were then reduced to ten men in the 89th minute when Ben Gibson was shown a second yellow card. However, Leeds could not make their man advantage count and it ended 0-0.
For Man of the Match Diagouraga, Leeds had at least shown they can mix it with the best in the Championship and he credited his men as unlucky not to win.
He said on Sky Sports after the final whistle: "We knew before the game we were good enough to beat anyone in this league and we showed it tonight.
"I think we could have won it. We were the better side in the first half. We had a few chances and we were unlucky not to win it."
And Diagouraga is pleased with his initial time at Leeds, having signed in the winter window.
"I've been here two or three weeks and I've seen how good the team is.
"Hopefully we can keep it up until the end of the season."
