AITOR KARANKA and Huddersfield counterpart Chris Powell last night insisted they had not seen the events at the John Smith’s Stadium when stewards had to separate the two sets of players in the tunnel after a dramatic game.

Moments after Grant Leadbitter had hit a stoppage-time winner for Middlesbrough from the penalty spot, there were some ugly scenes off the pitch when there is understood to have been a coming together as players headed back to the dressing rooms.

It is understood stewards and officials had to step in to bring the situation under control, which was not the ideal way for an entertaining afternoon’s football to come to a close following Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win.

Huddersfield boss Powell, in charge of his first match with the Terriers, said: “I heard there was a situation (in the tunnel afterwards) but I had already gone in to the dressing room.”

And Karanka wanted to concentrate on the events on the pitch. He said: “I don’t know what happened because I didn’t see anything.”

While the Middlesbrough manager did not say much about the tunnel bust-up, he was full of praise for his team’s performance after seeing Leadbitter’s two goals – the first a stunning free-kick – defeat Huddersfield, who had levelled through Jon Stead’s finish four minutes before the end.

Karanka said: “We are improving with the new players but we will need a good fully fit squad. I shall need them all to be ready to be involved. I couldn’t believe it when their equaliser went in.

“This is the Championship, we should have won three, four or five, but we could not win easy. The main thing is that we have won the game and that is good for the future.”