EFL pundits deliver damning verdict after Marcus Browne and Paddy McNair red cards at Swansea

Boro lost 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium but had a foothold in the game before Browne’s reckless challenge on Mike van der Hoorn at 1-1.

Browne had already been booked for diving after coming off the bench, and when assessing the incidents on the EFL’s highlights show on Quest, pundit Colin Murray said: “I am going to defend him for the first one, the yellow card.

“We have the luxury of slowing it down so it’s not referee bashing. He absolutely gets stood on here and gets a yellow for it, it was given as a dive but we didn’t see it as that at all.

“But it was a straight red for the second one so it was kind of immaterial.”

On the red card, studio guest Holloway added: “Whether it was a fair yellow or not he should definitely have not done this, absolute blatant foul there and it’s a red card.

“He’s lucky he hasn’t really hurt the player, that’s not nice is it.”

McNair was then sent off at 3-1 after appearing to elbow Swansea’s Matt Grimes.

Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate said the club would appeal the decision but Holloway thought the referee got it right.

“I really don’t like this one,” added Holloway. “We’ve looked at it from four or five angles and I think he’s left one on him.

“That is just stupid, you’re letting your club down and your team down.”