MIDDLESBROUGH interim manager Adi Viveash felt aggrieved by two key refereeing decisions in their 1-1 Championship draw at Oxford United.

Luke Harris gave Oxford a first-half lead before Morgan Whittaker equalised soon after the break.

Referee Ben Toner waved away appeals for a penalty when Alan Browne went down and also only booked Harris for a high challenge on Tommy Conway that some officials might have deemed worthy of a red card.

“We feel aggrieved that we’re on the wrong end again of three or four key decisions in the game – certainly the first one in the game – how that’s not been given, I don’t know,” said Viveash. “When I watched it back, it looks even more stonewall.

“And although there’s no malice in the boy Luke Harris when he’s challenging Tommy Conway, he doesn’t get the ball and he’s quite high and for me that is a red.

“I don’t like to see players getting sent off but this was a key moment in the game and was not to do with the pitch being greasy.

“At that moment we were really aggressive with the ball.

“We got into lots of wide areas but our quality wasn’t quite good enough in the final third.

KEY MOMENT: Middlesbrough's Alan Browne reacts to a challenge during the 1-1 Championship draw at Oxford United. Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA

placeholder image — KEY MOMENT: Middlesbrough's Alan Browne reacts to a challenge during the 1-1 Championship draw at Oxford United. Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA

“Their goal was a bit of a sucker punch, which we’ve obviously made the players aware of – it’s a good goal from their point of view, a very clean finish from the edge of the box.

“We had 19 shots and only three on target which is not the ratio you need if you’re going to win games at this level.

“But I was pleased with our equalising goal, we had good numbers in the box showing plenty of desire to get in there and I was pleased with that.

“For Morgan Whittaker, that’s three goals now in five games. As wide forwards, you’re going to be judged on your assists and goals and it was a great move and good finish.”

Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, De Keersmaecker, Brannagan (Vaulks 42), Placheta (Mills 63), L Harris (M Harris 63), Goodrham (Krastev 63), Lankshear (Romeny 77). Unused substitutes: Ingram, Prelec, Leigh, Davies.

Middlesbrough: Brynn, Brittain, Ayling, Jones, Targett (Silvera 46), Hackney, Morris (McGree 62), Whittaker, Browne, Burgzorg (K Sene 63), Conway. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Gilbert, Hamilton, Bangura, McCormick, Cartwright.

Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire).