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Lee Hendrie has given his reaction after Leeds United wrongly had two goals ruled out for offside in their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Pundit Lee Hendrie has hit out at the poor refereeing decisions in Leeds United's 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night after the Whites incorrectly had two goals ruled out for offside.

After dropping out of the top two following a 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Saturday, Leeds came into the game at the Riverside Stadium under huge pressure, but they made the perfect start as Daniel James slotted home from Manor Solomon's cross in the second minute to give the Whites the lead.

Daniel Farke's men continued to dominate in the early stages, and they thought they had a second when Ao Tanaka finished from close range, but the goal was controversially ruled out for offside.

It looked as though Leeds would be punished for that mistake as Boro began to grow into the game, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Finn Azaz and Delano Burgzorg all missing golden chances, and the Whites' frustration increased even further when substitute Patrick Bamford also had a strike wrongly disallowed for offside in the second half, despite timing his run perfectly to finish after being set up by Willy Gnonto.

The hosts piled on the pressure in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser, but Leeds were able to hold on for a much-needed victory, and after Burnley and Sheffield United both dropped points, they returned to the top of the table.

However, despite seeing his side pick up a crucial three points, Farke was in no mood to forget the errors of the officials, and he questioned why assistant referee Darren Williams was allowed to oversee another game involving the Whites after incorrectly ruling out goals in their games against Coventry City and Millwall in the past few weeks.

Lee Hendrie reacts to controversial Leeds United decisions in Middlesbrough victory

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie, who was on co-commentary duty for the game on Sky Sports last night, said that he was baffled by the two Leeds goals that were disallowed, and he admitted that the mistakes of the officials could have been incredibly costly for Farke's men, particularly given the chances Middlesbrough created.

"I did the game last night on commentary, and the two goals that were disallowed were absolutely ludicrous," Hendrie said.

"They were two really, really bad decisions from either official.

"They had a good view of the first one, and to have two goals ruled out that were clearly and obviously goals, this is where the Championship and lower leagues do suffer for not having VAR.

"If VAR was to look at those decisions, they'd have been overturned and would have been goals.

"I wouldn't have said that Leeds had a comfortable evening because I thought that Middlesbrough played really well, threatened at times and probably could have been a bit better in front of goal.

"It could easily have been a very bad punishment for Leeds if they didn't walk away with three points having had two goals chalked off that should have stood.

"It should have been a three-goal margin, whatever the score ended up."

It is difficult to disagree with Hendrie that the refereeing calls that denied Leeds two legitimate goals at Middlesbrough were incredibly questionable, but with no VAR in the Championship, there is always the risk that human error can occur.

After a run of just one win in six games, it was a much-improved performance from the Whites on Tuesday night, but Boro did still have plenty of chances, and if they were less wasteful in front of goal, they could easily have come away with a point.

Just as in their victories over Coventry and Millwall, the goals incorrectly ruled out by Williams were not costly for Leeds, much to the relief of Farke, but it would be a surprise to see him officiate in another game involving the West Yorkshire outfit this season.