THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Middlesbrough 1 Wing (47) leeds united 1 Phillips (90)
Marcelos Bielsa felt Leeds created enough chances to win at Middlesbrough after a late, late goal from Kalvin Phillips snatched a draw at the Riverside Stadium.
Phillips was on hand in the six-yard box to head over the line in the 11th minute of added time after an incident in the visitors’ dug-out in the latter stages of the game on Teesside.
Leeds’ teenage winger Jack Clarke, who had been withdrawn at halftime, had to be taken to hospital after feeling unwell as he watched the second half.
The game was stopped for seven minutes and led to referee Darren England asking for 12 extra minutes beyond the 90 when Boro led through Lewis Wing’s opener soon after half-time.
And it was at the end of stoppage-time when Leeds midfielder Phillips was in the right place to head his side level – and lift Bielsa’s team back to the top of the Championship. “What we know is that he didn’t feel well,” Bielsa said. “We don’t really know the reasons yet.
“After feeling bad he recovered and when he was taken to the dressing room he was better, as if he had overcome the problem. He was taken to the hospital to see if everything was alright.”
Bielsa added: “We could have won the game. If we take into account the 15 minutes in the first half when we were not at ease, apart from this we dominated.
“We deserved to score that goal and we probably deserved to score more goals.” Boro manager Tony Pulis was left frustrated by the manner of the result, even though he was also pleased to see his side recover from the midweek disappointment of losing at Newport in the FA Cup. Had Middlesbrough held on then they would have climbed to within four points of the top two and beaten both Leeds and West Brom in the space of seven days, but they at least head to Sheffield United on Wednesday with four points from those two matches.
Pulis said: “It was disappointing because it is late, and when it comes late in the game it is always hard to take.
“I wish my players had seen it coming.
“I thought the players were fantastic first half.
“Our midfield players were top drawer – Mikel was the best player on the pitch by a mile.
“I am more concerned about Jack Clarke and I hope he is OK. He is a very, very talented young player.
“All of our thoughts for Middlesbrough go to the lad Clarke.”