Tony Dorigo shares if Middlesbrough should have had a penalty against Leeds United, Lee Hendrie disagrees

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Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship and secured an eighth consecutive win at Elland Road on Tuesday night – but they might have got a bit lucky in the first half.

With Sheffield United only managing a draw against West Brom on the weekend, Leeds had the chance to go two points clear with a win against Middlesbrough and they duly delivered in a frantic league clash.

Wilfried Gnonto gave Leeds the lead, but his close-range goal was cancelled out when Max Wober scored an own goal. However, Leeds rallied and scored two more through Dan James and Brenden Aaronson.

A 12th league win of the season and an eighth win in 10 career matches against Middlesbrough for boss Daniel Farke. However, the result could have been very different had referee Ben Toner blew his whistle.

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Tony Dorigo does not think Joe Rodon incident was a penalty

In the first half, Middlesbrough attacker Riley McGree got on the end of a Boro cross by running across the front of Joe Rodon and touching the ball. Rodon, unaware of McGree, went to hoof the ball clear.

The Wales defender made contact with McGree and he went down, but Toner ignored the claims from Middlesbrough and play went on. Tony Dorigo said the referee was “spot on” on LUTV in the 18th minute.

Dorigo was confident in his verdict, before going quiet when replays were shown: “Riley McGree was the man that went down, but i’m not sure even he believed that was a penalty. The referee got it spot on.”

Lee Hendrie disagrees with Tony Dorigo verdict on penalty claim

Meanwhile, Aston Villa icon Lee Hendrie was on co-commentary duties with Sky Sports and the former midfielder believes Leeds got lucky even though it looked like Rodon got the ball before any replays.

Hendrie said during Sky Sports’ coverage of Leeds’ win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday night: “I think there’s contact, there is isn’t there. Once you get in front of the defender – I think that’s a penalty.”

There is an argument to be had that Leeds were easily the better side and deserved to win even if the Teesside club had been awarded a penalty. But, an early equaliser may have changed the outcome.