AN ANGRY Gareth Southgate last night claimed a refereeing error had cost Middlesbrough a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

The Boro boss criticised referee Keith Stroud after Gareth Bale's 72nd-minute opener was allowed to stand despite Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon standing in an offside position as the Wales international galloped clear.

While Lennon did not touch Robbie Keane's through ball, his presence prevented the covering Andrew Taylor from tackling Bale, and the Spurs full-back was effectively granted a free run on Brad Jones' goal.

The Middlesbrough bench reacted furiously to Stroud's decision to award the goal - goalkeeping coach Paul Barron was sent from the technical area because of the ferocity of his protests - and after viewing the incident again on video, Southgate felt the Teessiders were right to feel aggrieved.

"We have no argument about the fact Bale was onside," said the Boro boss, who also saw Tom Huddlestone add a Tottenham second within three minutes of the deadlock being broken. "However, what I do feel is that Lennon, who was clearly offside, was interfering with play.

"Our defender at the back was Taylor and, to try and get into position, he had to run around Lennon. Obviously this impeded his efforts to get the ball.

"There was a lot of confusion, but having had the chance to look at it again it was clear that Lennon was interfering and the goal should not have stood.

"If I've got that wrong, perhaps I should go on another course to learn what the offside rule is."