Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis was left bemoaning the officials as his side dropped points in the Championship promotion race.

Boro are one-time leaders of the division, but the 1-1 draw at the Riverside means they're now sixth, six points shy of Leeds United in second place.

They had to come from behind to earn a point against Tony Mowbray's Blackburn, wi9th defender Charlie Mulgrew opening the scoring after 22 minutes. Britt Assombalonga, out of the side in recent weeks, saved Boro with a 62nd minute strike.

However, the home side played for 70 minutes with ten men after Mo Besic was sent off and it was that decision that had Pulis raging post match.

“How they've made that decision is beyond me," he told the Teesside Gazette. “The sending off, we were the better team up until that. The referee doesn't send him off, it's the fourth official and the linesman."

"I'll say it now, Besic does pull his shirt but our goalkeeper is getting there first. It's a yellow card not a sending off."

The unlucky loser in the debacle was Ashley Fletcher, making his first start for Boro in over a year. He was sacrificed for Lewis Wing immediately after the red card and will now be hoping for another chance to prove his worth in the coming weeks.

The Verdict

Managers like a moan and a whinge, but Pulis should be focusing on other matters. He still doesn't seem to know his best XI and the solid defence upon which their Premier League aspiration were built appears to be crumbling.

They need to arrest the slide and fast, otherwise they'll be no more than play off hopefuls at best.

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