Leeds United topple Middlesbrough with smash-and-grab victory
Guardian 21/2/15
Aitor Karanka urged Middlesbrough to bounce back immediately after a 1-0 home defeat by Leeds United hurt their Championship title hopes.
Alex Mowatt’s third-minute goal meant Boro, who started Saturday’s early kick-off one point clear at the top of the table, slumped to a first home defeat since August. While frustrated that his side failed to take any points from a game they dominated, Karanka knows his men have a chance to make amends when Bolton Wanderers visit the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night.
“Today is the kind of day you cannot explain,” he said. “We are frustrated because we have done everything to win this game and we haven’t won it. I can’t say anything bad about my players because they have done their best. We now have to think about Tuesday, against Bolton.
“I thought the performance was very good. I don’t know how many chances we had. However, we have an important game on Tuesday.
“The best thing is to play again on Tuesday, especially at home. This team always reacts very well after a defeat.”
The game was doubly frustrating for Karanka given that Middlesbrough only rose to the summit of the Championship after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City. “It’s difficult to get into first and it’s difficult to stay there,” he said. “But we have two months ahead and we are capable of doing this job [gaining promotion]. We have to keep working in the same way because we’re doing really well.”
Karanka’s disappointment was exacerbated late on in the game when Jelle Vossen was taken off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious head injury. Asked about the Belgian’s condition, the Boro manager replied: “I don’t know. The doctor is with him, so we don’t know whether it’s going to be something serious at the moment. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he is better soon.”
Neil Redfearn called on Leeds, who have an outside chance of securing a play-off place, to keep their feet on the ground. United have now lost just one of their past eight fixtures, with this a third successive win.
“It’s very satisfying,” the Leeds manager said. “But we have to make sure we don’t get carried away with ourselves. We are a young side and we have been through a lot of adversity. We are going to get better and better.
“We are enjoying what we’re doing at the moment, but we know you cannot take anything for granted in this division.
“It’s a tough division to get out of. I think Middlesbrough are the favourites; they are a complete side.
“[Reaching the play-offs] is a tall ask, but, while there are points to play for, there is no reason not to aim as high as you can.”
Aitor Karanka urged Middlesbrough to bounce back immediately after a 1-0 home defeat by Leeds United hurt their Championship title hopes.
Alex Mowatt’s third-minute goal meant Boro, who started Saturday’s early kick-off one point clear at the top of the table, slumped to a first home defeat since August. While frustrated that his side failed to take any points from a game they dominated, Karanka knows his men have a chance to make amends when Bolton Wanderers visit the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night.
“Today is the kind of day you cannot explain,” he said. “We are frustrated because we have done everything to win this game and we haven’t won it. I can’t say anything bad about my players because they have done their best. We now have to think about Tuesday, against Bolton.
“I thought the performance was very good. I don’t know how many chances we had. However, we have an important game on Tuesday.
“The best thing is to play again on Tuesday, especially at home. This team always reacts very well after a defeat.”
The game was doubly frustrating for Karanka given that Middlesbrough only rose to the summit of the Championship after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City. “It’s difficult to get into first and it’s difficult to stay there,” he said. “But we have two months ahead and we are capable of doing this job [gaining promotion]. We have to keep working in the same way because we’re doing really well.”
Karanka’s disappointment was exacerbated late on in the game when Jelle Vossen was taken off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious head injury. Asked about the Belgian’s condition, the Boro manager replied: “I don’t know. The doctor is with him, so we don’t know whether it’s going to be something serious at the moment. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he is better soon.”
Neil Redfearn called on Leeds, who have an outside chance of securing a play-off place, to keep their feet on the ground. United have now lost just one of their past eight fixtures, with this a third successive win.
“It’s very satisfying,” the Leeds manager said. “But we have to make sure we don’t get carried away with ourselves. We are a young side and we have been through a lot of adversity. We are going to get better and better.
“We are enjoying what we’re doing at the moment, but we know you cannot take anything for granted in this division.
“It’s a tough division to get out of. I think Middlesbrough are the favourites; they are a complete side.
“[Reaching the play-offs] is a tall ask, but, while there are points to play for, there is no reason not to aim as high as you can.”
