'Big' Middlesbrough penalty claim against Leeds United put under the microscope

Middlesbrough should have had a penalty in the first-half of their defeat at Leeds United, according to Sky Sports analysts Michael Brown and Tommy Smith.

Boro defender Smith was part of the Sky Sports team in the studio to watch and provide analysis on Boro’s game, alongside former Leeds midfielder Brown. It was a game that Boro ultimately lost 3-1.

But things might have been different, with Brown adamant that Boro should have had a penalty in the first half when Riley McGree appeared to be caught by Joe Rodon after catching the defender unaware while running across him to reach a low cross ahead of him. What would have offered Boro an even earlier opportunity to equalise and would have potentially changed the momentum of the game.

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Looking back at the moment after, Brown said: "I think the penalty decision is a big call. The referee is right down the line. You think of his experience at this level and maybe ask, ‘could he do with some help from the side?’

“It happens so quickly. But ultimately, at the top of the Championship, he has to get that decision right. He’s got to be a little bit closer whenever he possibly can be. He hasn’t got the decision as we would have expected and Middlesbrough will be bitterly disappointed about that.”

The game was only referee Ben Toner’s 15th Championship game of his young career. Despite a current Boro player being on the panel, it was actually the former Leeds man who was the stronger of the two on the decision, with Smith more sympathetic with the official in the circumstance.

Making a point on VAR, Smith said: “It’s a Premier League penalty. But listen, it’s really difficult for a referee. I did think it was a penalty and he’s looking right down the line at it. It’s the speed I think - how quick it happens.”

Boro boss Michael Carrick refused to blame the official after the game. Asked by Sky Sports after, he simply said: "I've not seen it to be honest so I don't know. At the time, we did claim for it but I've not seen it back."