DANIEL Farke said he didn't feel the need to apologise after Leeds United's offside goal in the 4-3 win at Middlesbrough.

Boro boss Michael Carrick fumed at the officials after they allowed Wilfried Gnonto's first half goal - which put Leeds 3-2 up - to stand, despite the fact the Italian forward was offside.

But Farke, who claimed he hadn't seen the goal back, says Leeds have been on the receiving end of several bad refereeing decisions this year, so welcomed the stroke of luck at the Riverside.

He also questioned the decision to rule out Patrick Bamford's goal in the second half, after the former Boro striker was flagged offside.

But the Gnonto goal was the big talking point, with Michael Carrick seething at a "massive, massive decision" that went against his side.

Farke said: "Was it offside? "Okay. Five inches or how much?

"I think 10 years ago we would probably have said it's onside. Nowadays you drop the line and then you have perhaps two inches. I'm not sure if it's in the sense of the game. So if it was actually offside we have to say okay, 52 against us and we're edging a bit closer.

"I'm not sure if Patrick was really offside in the second half. His goal was disallowed, then we're not edging closer.

"I'm not sure if we're owed something, because of all the mistakes against us that we can't be on the equal level, so many decisions, goals, offside, whatever.

"If we were lucky in this situation then yes I take this but I don't feel we have to apologise.

"I would like to see Patrick's back because my feeling on the pitch was not offside."

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Farke was relieved and delighted after his side survived a late onslaught from Boro and edged the seven-goal thriller at the Riverside.

Isaiah Jones put the hosts ahead but the automatic promotion chasers hit back through Crysencio Summerville and Bamford. Emmanuel Latte Lath levelled before Gnonto's controversial strike.

Summerville looked to have secured the win for Leeds but Latte Lath struck a second and set up a dramatic finale.

Farke was full of praise for both sides.

He said: “I think first of all it was a good advertisement for Championship football and all the supporters enjoyed the game between two good sides who really went for it and wanted to win and massive compliments to the lads to win this.

"The game started in the worst possible way for us and it was really unlucky and disappointing, a deflected pass and they scored.

"Middlesbrough played with freedom and it was more or less their last highlight and they could go for it. They're in good shape, nine games unbeaten and were 1-0 up early on and the whole stadium was buzzing versus Leeds United.

"With some many young players, to show such a reaction and create so many chances and score fantastic goals was great.

"At times, we had were a bit naïve and it was a bit of a basketball game and we lost the ball unnecessarily in our half for the equaliser. But compliments to Middlesbrough, it was a fantastic performance.

"We showed a great mentality to go 3-2 up at half-time. It was important to calm them down and their nerves down against the ball and work a bit more on our structure against the ball and we controlled the game more against the ball in the second half.

"We wanted to allow them a bit more possession in areas where they can't hurt us. They had set-pieces but we cleared them really well. We wanted to win the game on the counter-attack.

"But it's football, it's the Championship, out of one long ball they scored and in the last minutes their keeper was in our box more than his. They tried everything, the stadium was awake and we could feel the pressure. It was difficult. We needed to show some resilience and steel and we did. Many compliments to the heart and character of my players."