Danny Mills fumes at 'poor refereeing' as 'ridiculous incident' avoided in Leeds United v Middlesbrough

Danny Mills slammed referee Anthony Backhouse following a "ridiculous" incident in the first half between Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Speaking live on talkSPORT [14 August] during the Carabao Cup first-round tie at Elland Road, Mills - who played for both clubs between 1999 and 2004 - criticised Backhouse after Isaiah Jones was hauled down by Sam Byram.

The referee let an advantage go with Middlesbrough in possession for a sustained period as Jones stayed down, with Mills claiming Boro - the team who should have the free-kick - would have been a man down unfairly had Leeds won the ball and begun a counter-attack.

"I just think that's poor refereeing at times. Why can't you wait five seconds? That's absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things, the moment that ball's away you know what I'll pull it back, there was no real advantage go back and have the free kick," Mills said.

"You could have a ridiculous incident there where Leeds had a couple of touches, the referee didn't stop the game, clearly a foul, in my opinion it should be a booking on the far side, the referee's played on, what if Leeds then break away because you've allowed advantage when you've got a man down."

Leeds United make early EFL Cup exit

Whilst the referee has caught some criticism for his handling of the Jones and Byram incident, Leeds United have caught it tenfold for their defending.

A cagey first half became a wide open second half - but entirely in Middlesbrough's favour.

Daniel Farke had to tear straight into his first-choice players having a rest on the bench, sending on no less than all five of his permitted substitutes at once, all of whom started the Championship opener against Portsmouth.

But it did not have the desired effect as Boro went on to race into a 3-0 lead, an advantage they would hold until the final whistle.

The majority of those who were looking to convince Farke of a starting berth in the league moving forward have done their case little benefit, as Boro tore into Leeds after the break and carved straight through their defence.

It's fair to say that is likely to provoke the wrath of ex-Whites right-back Mills as much as the officiating in this contest.

In other Leeds news, the club are in the hunt for a Championship winner.

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