Boro unhappy with opener
27 Sep 2007 - 08:00:38
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate blamed a refereeing error for their 2-0 Carling Cup defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Boro fell behind to a Gareth Bale opener which Southgate believed should have been disallowed as Aaron Lennon was offside in he build-up.
Tom Huddlestone added some late gloss to the scoreline with a 75th minute second, but Southgate was left to lament the failure of the officials to chalk off Bale's opening effort.
"We are well aware that Bale was onside but we do feel Lennon was interfering, he was standing five yards from Bale and let the ball run," he said.
"Our covering defender has to go around Lennon.
"Maybe I have to go on another course! It's difficult for the linesman but the flag should have gone up.
"We kept it tight in the first half and put a striker on after the break and it could have been a night we could have grabbed a 1-0.
"We don't have to bleat on about who we don't have here, Tottenham were the better side and good luck to them."