Middlesbrough's controversial goal handed Everton initiative, says Aitor Karanka
Saturday 17 September 2016 21:53, UK
Aitor Karanka felt Middlesbrough's opening goal handed Everton the initiative in their 3-1 defeat at Goodison Park.
Boro took the lead on Merseyside on 21 minutes after Alvaro Negredo robustly challenged Toffees stopper Maarten Stekelenburg, forcing the Dutchman to drop the ball into the back of the net.
"Scoring a goal was the problem because after that they were better and we lost our concentration," Boro boss Karanka said.
The Spaniard was reluctant to offer his opinion on the validity of the goal, or Ashley Williams' challenge on Victor Valdes which led to Gareth Barry scoring Everton's equaliser on his 600th Premier League appearance.
"I prefer to say not anything," he added.
"I will focus on my job because we have to let referees do their jobs because it is not easy."
Having drawn themselves level, Everton ran away with the game before half-time as goals from Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku put the game beyond the Teessiders.
Despite this, Karanka chose to draw positive from his side performance.
"It's disappointing when you lose a game but I have to say I'm really pleased with my players," he said.
"I was watching [Everton's] game on Monday [against Sunderland] and today they were a completely different team.
"It means that they had to play their best to beat us and for that reason I'm really proud of my players.
"It was really difficult at half time. The frustration was high in the changing room and it was difficult for us to play in the second half, but we were fighting for the last ball.
"I'm not pleased because when you lose a game you can't be happy but again, I have taken good things from today."
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