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At the back Ugo Ehiogu returned alongside Gareth Southgate and Gianluca Festa with Franck Queudrue and Jason Gavin as full backs. Alen Boksic was on the bench.
Boro started on the back foot and found it hard to get out of their own half, not for the want of trying. It seemed obvious from the outset that Boro were over-run in the middle and Leeds took advantage with nearly twenty minutes gone.
Mark Viduka back heeled the ball through to Robbie Fowler who was clear on goal, but he unselfishly squared the ball to Eirik Bakke who scored easily past Mark Crossley.
Boro rallied and should have been level shortly after, when Festa put Carbone clear on goal. The Italians first touch forced the ball wide and his shot was always rising over the bar.
Approaching half time Boro forced a string corners but could not make the breakthrough they needed.
Leeds were well worth their lead but will be disappointed to go in with just a one goal advantage.
All change for the second half, off went Jason Gavin, who had looked uncomfortable at right back, and off went Phil Stamp who had taken a knock late in the first half.
On came Alen Boksic and Robbie Mustoe, Boksic went up front with Carbone, Mustoe was a stright swap for Stamp. Whelan dropped back into midfiled and Festa went to right back as Boro reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
What a difference it made, Boro were straight on the offensive and drew level after only five minutes with a bizarre goal. After a scrap in midfield the ball broke to Ince who hit a weak shot at goal. As Nigel Martyn went down to collect the ball it hit a a divot and reared up over his shoulder and into the net.
They always say that what goes around comes around, for those with a good memory, remember Gary Parkinson's back pass to Kevin Poole at Elland Road back in 1989, the ball did exactly the same thing as Leeds won 2-1, fortunately it wasn't the winner. But they all count and this time Boro were level.
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Boro's excellent start to the second half was short lived as Leeds went back in front five minutes later. Ince gave away a free-kick on the right, just in the perfect position for Ian Harte to test Crossley.
Gareth Southgate's ploy of chasing back onto the goal line as free-kicks are taken cost Boro the goal. He was tracked by Fowler who managed to deflect Harte's shot past Crossley. I'm sure Crossley would have had the shot covered had it not been deflected.
The goal didn't kill off Boro's spirit as they pressed for a second equaliser, Greening hitting a shot wide from just inside the box.
Another Harte free-kick saw Crossley save easily at his left hand post.
Boro were creating chances, Carbone hit a weak shot at Martyn from a Boksic lay-off and Boksic himself headed a Greening cross wide of the post.
With five minutes to go Martyn made a superb save from Whelan who hit a thunderous volley towards the top corner, the ex-Leeds man could not believe it and fans around the ground began to resign themselves to another defeat, but the players believed otherwise and were rewarded with two minutes left.
Boro forced a corner on the left which Carbone floated into the box, Dean Windass rose unmarked to head past Martyn from about six yards and the crowd errupted. There was still time to go for a winner, and Windass nearly got it, but his volley from the edge of the box bobbled wide.
A fair result in the end and a stirring performance from Boro in the second half, if they play with as much passion and commitment for the rest of the season we will survive with ease.
A win at home to Fulham, a week on Tuesday, would move Boro up to eleventh place, but first we must take this form into the cup tie with Blackburn next week. Safety is priority but a good cup run would be icing on the cake.