Leeds United 0 Middlesbrough 1: Red cards leave Grayson baffled

The Boro striker netted midway through the second half to clinch all three points for Tony Mowbray’s men.

Already down to ten men following the first half dismissal of Max Gradel, United’s numbers were reduced further when Jonathan Howson saw red.

In a bizarre passage of play, referee Anthony Taylor initially adjudged Emnes to have dived under a challenge from Howson on the hour and awarded the home side the free-kick.

However, as Emnes writhed in agony on the floor, Taylor then had a change of mind and awarded Boro the free-kick – before showing Howson his second yellow card of the afternoon

Seven minutes later, Boro, who lost Tony McMahon to an innocuous-looking challenge, in first half stoppage time had the lead courtesy of a blistering finish from Emnes after he had cut inside tom Lees.

“I don’t know what words to describe it,” Grayson said.

“Everybody is referring to a few of the decisions. It amazes you at times. You have 20-odd thousand here, a passionate local derby, two players go for a 50-50, not over the top or anything like that, and they’re both yellow-carded which puts them both on the back foot.

“Neither of them went over the top and then Max makes a rash challenge. He then decides to even it up by sending off Tony McMahon which I don’t think was another yellow card, and then the second sending-off absolutely baffled me.”

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