Head loss moment from Hayden Hackney who somehow avoids a red card for lashing out

There was a head loss moment from Hayden Hackney who somehow avoids a red card for lashing out at Taylor Gardner-Hickman.

The 0-0 draw sees Boro remain second in the Championship, but it was yet another lacklustre performance for Kim Hellberg’s side, failing to score for a second consecutive match, coming close to scoring when Morgan Whittaker’s shot struck the post.

Valerien Ismael’s Blackburn came away with a valuable point to edge away from the relegation zone.

Speaking live on BBC Radio Lancashire Sport, reporter Gary Hunt said: “Hayden Hackney could go for this; he’s lashed out there. I think he’s a lucky lad to just get the yellow.

“He’s kicked out in frustration. That’s a red, and the referee was five to 10 yards away.”

Head loss moment from Hayden HACKney 😬

Was the Middlesbrough midfielder lucky to avoid a red card for lashing out here? pic.twitter.com/iYz2FUqx5l

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 26, 2025

Hellberg said: “I think the performance was not good enough. We have had a lot of good performances over the last period of time, but I think this result was quite fair because we didn’t deserve anything more than a draw.

“We’re disappointed with the performance, so we have to live with the result. We take in, move on and have to try to improve.

“We weren’t as good as we want to be. We had some moments, but overall, the game was not good enough from us, and we have to be honest about that, learn and improve.

“You have days that are tougher and the technical level was not as good as we have been used to.

“There were a lot of turnovers from slips that made it an open game for them. We lost some balls. You could see the lads were trying to do everything and it is going to be about handling expectations for us.

“You could see everyone trying to do everything for Middlesbrough and when it wasn’t quite working, we were trying even harder.

“But it was like we were leaving our head outside the game and trying to play with our heart only and that meant we lost a bit of structure and control.

“It comes from wanting to do everything for everyone here – it is something we have to learn from.”

“It was not good enough for us.” 💬

Kim Hellberg shares his post-match thoughts 🎥 pic.twitter.com/pAbxyME6xJ

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 26, 2025

Ismael said after the game: “I think this is our way to work. We know we are well organised and we want to give ourselves a chance to stay in any game with our attitude.

“I think is a good step for the players and the backline. We have been working with a lot of academy boys because the injury list has got bigger and bigger.

“The only way we can survive is if we stick together and everyone can contribute something to the team. We want to win games, but sometimes you have to adapt to the opponent and the situation.

“We are doing well at the minute – we just have to keep going through the process together and whoever is on the pitch just needs to make sure they are ready to go.

“If you want to get something at Middlesbrough, you have to play at the limits and the boys did that well.”

Here’s how fans reacted to the head loss moment from Hayden Hackney who somehow avoids a red card for lashing out…

@walkerovboro: Red all day long and I’m a boro fan

@NickJH83: Excuse me. The referee is right there. Blimey a three year old gives a red card for that.

@BradleyStirton: We will see if the EFL have any sort of consistency, they went back and banned McLean for 3 matches for violent conduct which is exactly what this was.

@JezClein: slap your teammate, red card. Kick an opponent up in the air, yellow card

@danamalt: i expected a red, although i’m not sure why given the standard of officiating in this league

@MikeyDelap: How the fuck this is only a yellow card would take some explaining to me.

@PearseHamilton: I’m inclined to give refs the benefit of the doubt generally with split second decisions made without the benefit of watching a replay, but this is a howler. Happens right in front of him, and he still only gives a yellow?

@safcfansreact: It’s clearly a red card. Everyone in the stadium knows it but the twit in the middle is the one who has the whistle. Where, in gods name, do the EFL find these jokers?? 🤷🏻‍♂️

@RohanQuinn: This is why EFL officials are the laughing stock of the footballing world. Wasn’t even a hard decision to make. The player would have had no complaints either. A careless, petulant “challenge”. Red card, plain and simple.

@readrovers: It’s a red for the swipe and a red for the grab of Yuki’s throat… 🤷‍♂️ Someone give the ref some Specsavers vouchers as a belated Xmas present… #Rovers 🌹🔵⚪

@MoJaffer1: Hackney by name hacker by nature!! @EFL need to sort this shit out! Week in week out there is incompetence in the Championship referees!! #Rovers

@mmc3012: Ref needs sacking as that’s a horrendous decision, red all day long

@simonwharton14: 100% red card championship referees are pudding

@danwba_: The rule that no retrospective action can be taken after a ref has seen the incident has to be one of the worst in football. Pretty much, if the ref gets it wrong we’ll support it. Gilchrist red for someone diving, but Hackney & Mehmeti yellow’s for kicking & GBH. Makes no sense.

@TheCruncher76: Refs wonder why they get a bad rep, this is as blatant red card you will see all year long, baffling

@darrencoleman31: Refs one again not up to standard… a red card at any level @EFL how much more of this do we have to take?