Middlesbrough coach reveals thoughts on Newcastle defeat and controversial Nathan Wood red card

Boro started the game on a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions, but were outplayed by the Magpies in the Premier League 2, Division 2, clash.

First-half goals from Elliot Anderson and Tom Allan saw the visitors move up to sixth in the table and within a point of Boro.

New goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic, 26, started his second game for Boro’s under-23 side, while defender Anfernee Dijksteel played just over an hour to step up his recovery from a knee injury.

The Teessiders’ squad has diminished over the last month, though, with the likes of Ben Liddle, Stephen Walker, Connor Malley and Isaiah Jones leaving on loan to gain first-team football.

After the game, Lee told the Mail: “We have a small group of lads now with lads going on loan and lads pushing towards the first team. The group we have have been brilliant but tonight we were way off where we needed to be and the standards we have set.

“We lacked a will to want to get on the ball and just decisions on the ball, literally simple we wanted to move the ball one or two touch and the decisions on the ball weren’t good enough.

“Out of possession it frustrated me because we didn’t anticipate anything, ended up going too late and it was frustrating. The lads are obviously frustrated and I’m just disappointed with how the team performed.”

The Teessiders were also reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Nathan Wood was shown a straight red card for pulling back forward Yannick Toure.

Lee believed the sending off was harsh and said Boro could appeal the decision.

“He said he was the last man,” said Lee when asked about the referee’s reasoning. “We’ll have a look back but I thought there were two players alongside him. It definitely for me didn’t look like a red card.”