MICHAEL Carrick was left baffled by Middlesbrough's disallowed goal in the second half at Huddersfield and felt the decision could have had an impact on the outcome of the game.

Boro were looking to mount an unlikely comeback at 4-1 down when substitute Matt Crooks appeared to bundle the ball over the line.

Referee John Busby initially signalled for a goal and Boro's players made their way back into their half for the restart - only for the officials to change their mind.

Asked why the goal was chalked off, Carrick said: "I don't know. Apparently the fourth official said it didn't go over the line."

Carrick felt a goal at that stage in the 70th minute - four minutes before Akpom scored his 25th league goal of the season - could have changed the game.

He said: "I think it would have been massively different. The less said the better."

Carrick made two changes for the game, bringing Paddy McNair into the defence in place of Dael Fry and playing Aaron Ramsey on the left rather than Riley McGree.

Explaining the decision to leave out McGree, who set-up Akpom's goal after being introduced from the bench, Carrick said: "He had been ill while he was away earlier in the week. He came back. We have options in the squad and it's a long way back for him (from Australia)."

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McGree replaced Hayden Hackney when he was introduced in the second half. That was a tactical decision, said Carrick, and there's no injury or fitness concerns.

"It was just tactical, making a decision in the game," said the head coach.

"We needed a goal and I just tried to mix things up a little bit. It was nothing against Hayden.

"I didn't think he was particularly bad for anything. It wasn't a personal thing, it was just a tweak to try and get Riley on and get as many goals on the pitch as we could."