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The name Tom Nield was virtually unknown on Teesside prior to kick-off at Birmingham City on Friday night.

However, after denying Boro a vital third goal at St Andrew’s, the unfortunate assistant referee has become something of a pantomime villain in the eyes of Middlesbrough supporters.

The West Yorkshire official flagged Dani Ayala offside as he fired in a 70th minute shot that beat keeper Adam Legzdins but TV replays conclusively proved the ‘goal’ should have stood.

Even Birmingham boss Gary Rowett agreed the decision was incorrect in his post match press conference, which will be of no comfort whatsoever to Boro fans .

And the mood of those fans won’t be improved by the news that Nield was in the news earlier this year when he refereed a National League clash between Southport and Wrexham, which the Welsh club lost 3-2.

(Image: © CameraSport)

Daily Post reporter Rob Griffiths was covering the game and he pulled no punches in his assessment of Nield’s refereeing performance in a subsequent comment piece.

He wrote: “The boos chorused down from the 956 travelling Wrexham fans after watching their side crash to a third successive National League defeat and lose further ground on the leading pack.

“But this time they were not aimed entirely at the Dragons players, instead referee Tom Nield taking the brunt of the ire and angst from the excellent away support.

“Nield put in a performance that was below the standards expected of a referee even at the fifth tier of the football pyramid, the official making a number of bizarre decisions throughout which bemused and baffled and eventually drew anger from those inside Haig Avenue.

“And it is also fair to say Nield’s performance had a direct bearing on the outcome of the game, denying Wrexham what looked a stonewall penalty late in proceedings with the score locked at 2-2, before then moments later awarding Southport an equally clear cut spot kick.

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“It was rubbing salt into the wounds of the Dragons, already feeling hard done to with a number of challenges seemingly going unpunished in favour of the Haig Avenue outfit.

“Only moments earlier substitute Kayden Jackson had been denied a spot kick after running onto a superb through ball to beat the covering defence and when clear through on Max Crocombe’s goal was clattered into from behind by covering Southport defender Adam Blakeman.

“Haig Avenue held its breath, surely Nield would point to the spot, yet instead the official theatrically waved away any and all claims, Jackson looking dumbfounded at the decision, while the entire Dragons bench encroached onto the pitch in disbelief.”

However, Gazette columnist and former Premier League referee Jeff Winter refused to join in the chorus of disapproval aimed at Nield.

He said: “Yes, it looks like assistant referee made a mistake on the night but if Boro had taken even half their chances at St Andrew’s they’d have been home and dry.

“I understand the fans’ frustrations, but this season the overall standard of refereeing at Boro games has been good in my opinion and if we miss out on promotion it won’t be because of officials.”

Nield, from Huddersfield, was promoted to the National List of assistant referees in May 2013 at the age of 22.