Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka rues momentary lapse at Burnley
Monday 26 December 2016 19:08, UK
Aitor Karanka was left to rue a brief lapse of concentration as Middlesbrough were edged out 1-0 at Burnley.
There was little to separate last season's Sky Bet Championship top two at Turf Moor until Boro succumbed to a route-one move, allowing Andre Gray to end a 10-game goal drought and hand the hosts' victory 10 minutes from time.
Boro boss Karanka revealed the Teessiders had planned to deal with Burnley's direct approach, which made conceding in such a manner tough to stomach.
"It very frustrating because we've been working all week knowing they play in that style with long ball," he told Sky Sports.
"We went into the game in a really good way we had chances, one of them really clear, to score the first one.
"The first 25 minutes we played really well but in the second 20 minutes we didn't play in the style we like. In the second half when the game was completely under control one ball that we knew they would play surprised us and we lost the game."
Asked whether he felt Boro deserved to win the game, Karanka added: "Maybe not win. We created the first chances and the second half we had set pieces and corners but one point would have been fair because I don't remember their chances."
A congested festive schedule sees Karanka's side travel to in-form Manchester United on New Years' Eve.
And the Spaniard was keen to switch focus to Saturday's clash at Old Trafford.
"This is the past we have an important this week against Manchester United so we are looking forward to that game.
"We have to look forward. We know to win games in this league is tough so we have to recover as soon as possible because we have Manchester United on Saturday and Leicester the following Monday.
"In the Premier League you don't have time to rest."
Craig Pawson had another eventful afternoon officiating, with the referee brandishing 11 yellow cards, but Karanka had sympathy with the officials after a "difficult" afternoon.
"It was a tough game with a lot of fouls; it was difficult for the referee," he said.
"When two teams play with hat intensity it is difficult for the officials. When there are a lot of long balls in the air things are difficult for them."
