A FRUSTRATED Tony Pulis last night criticised the decision to appoint an inexperienced referee for the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United that dented Middlesbrough’s hopes of winning promotion.

Richard Stearman headed home the only goal of the game midway through the second half as Boro crashed to their first Championship defeat of 2019, with the Teessiders ending the game with ten men after Daniel Ayala was dismissed for two bookings in the space of seven second-half minutes.

Pulis felt the decision to send off Ayala was justified, but was deeply critical of the lead up to Stearman’s 61st-minute goal.

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The Boro boss was adamant John Obi Mikel should not have been penalised as he conceded a free-kick close to the right touchline, and also felt Andy Woolmer should have ruled out Stearman’s header for a foul on Dael Fry.

He was critical of the decision to hand the game to Woolmer in the first place, with the Northamptonshire-based official having spent the vast majority of the season officiating in Leagues One and Two.

“I’m disappointed,” said Pulis, whose side remain in sixth position on goal difference after Derby County were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town. “The referee, that was his eighth (Championship) game this season. We’ve played 32 games in the Championship, and that was his eighth game.

“I don’t blame him, but the people at the top – I’m watching (Championship) games (on Tuesday) and they're getting Premier League referees to ref those games and that's disappointing. I'm just saying to give someone who has only refereed eight games this game tonight, it's difficult to understand.

“My disappointment is the two decisions for the goal. The first is the free-kick the linesman gave when there's been things going on all night worse than that and have not been given.

“And then the goal, if you have a look at it, he's right over Dael, he's got his arms pushing Dael down and it's a free-kick. If they are going to give a free-kick for the incident out wide, then it's beyond belief that the goal stands.”

The game was reasonably even for the majority of the first half, but Boro were on the back foot by the time Stearman headed home and never really looked like getting back on level terms after Ayala was dismissed.

Dean Henderson tipped Jordan Hugill’s first-half effort over the crossbar and made a routine late stop to deny substitute Britt Assombalonga, but Boro’s attacking shortcomings were once again apparent as they failed to score for the ninth time in the league this season.

“The game was an even game until Dani got set-off,” said Pulis. “I think we could have done a lot better going forward if Dani had stayed on but you give credit to Sheffield United on the way they played in the second half.

“We lost (Aden) Flint and they played more direct, they got the crowd up, the ball went in the corners a few times and then you need strong officials.”

Flint hobbled off with a hamstring injury in the first half, and is set to be sidelined for up to a month. Ayala will be suspended for Sunday’s game at Blackburn Rovers, meaning Pulis will be forced into a major reshuffle if he wants to continue playing with five at the back.

Danny Batth was not replaced after his loan was cut short, and Stewart Downing’s contractual situation remains unresolved, meaning that as things stand, Pulis will not be able to name him in the starting line-up at Ewood Park.

“Aden will be three or four weeks, it's his hamstring,” confirmed the Boro boss. “We lost Danny Batth during the window, so then losing those two (leaves us) a little bit short.”