Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has insisted that he was "happy with the attitude of the team" during Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Everton in the Premier League.
Boro led in the 21st minute at Goodison Park courtesy of an own goal from Maarten Stekelenburg, but Everton turned things around on home soil to continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
The visitors, however, have now only won one of their five league matches this season and Karanka has admitted that the newly-promoted club "were a little bit lost in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half", when they conceded twice.
"Everton had to play their best to beat us. We started really well but we were a little bit lost in the last 10-15 minutes of the first half. I have to do my job and I have to let the referees do their job. Today, I knew before the game it was going to be very difficult," Karanka told reporters.
"We lost a little bit of concentration. When you are a little bit lost against teams like Everton then you have problems. I can be happy with the attitude of the team because other teams would have lost five, six or 7-1. We were battling to the end."
Middlesbrough currently sit 11th in the Premier League table on five points from five matches.
Matt Law
