Aitor Karanka hoping Middlesbrough find their motivation in promotion push

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka suggested some of his under-performing players were running out of excuses after his side had to scrape a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn.

Rovers earned a well-deserved point at the Riverside as below-par Boro had to come from behind.

Paul Lambert's deadline day signing Jordi Gomez put the visitors ahead in the second half but David Nugent salvaged it for Boro 11 minutes from time.

And even though it ended back-to-back defeats for the promotion-chasing Teessiders, Karanka was unhappy with the display.

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"The best example was the last 20 minutes because that was the only time we wanted to win the game," he said.

"The first 70 minutes we haven't played with the intensity that we need to play, especially after our last two defeats.

"I thought the reaction today was going to be better, but the last 20 minutes is the only time we wanted to win or draw the game when we had a few chances.

"I know the concern, now we try to motivate them as we were two or three weeks ago. So now we try to work more and try to pick the right players.

"The problem is the goalkeeper was completely lost because five or six players around him did nothing.

"It's a difficult league, and when your team-mates do nothing it's difficult to perform."

Next up for second-placed Boro, who have a game in hand over leaders Hull, is Tuesday's league match at MK Dons and Karanka admitted he has now switched his focus to that match.

He added: "I prefer to think about the last 20 minutes and to think about the game on Tuesday.

"With the players today thinking the reaction was going to be better. I had to be fair with them because we're in the position we are because they have been playing well until two weeks ago.

"Now I've seen that reaction and I have to think about changing something."

Rovers were full value for the point and were close to bagging all three points but Hope Akpan missed a late sitter.

Paul Lambert's Blackburn managed to scrape a result.

Image credit: PA Sport

Boss Paul Lambert said: "I thought we were the better team and we should have won it, with the chances we had.

"But performance wise I thought we were outstanding. Our system was near enough perfect to win a game. There were some big performances within the system.

"To come here, against a team trying to get out of the league, is tough anyway, but we were very good.

"We coped really well, we dominated the middle of the pitch. They're a good side and they're up there on merit, but we put a lot of pressure on them.

"There's only three teams that can go up, and you can sense there's an anxiety here. Big players can handle pressure, sometimes it can get to you the closer you get to the line. It's funny what pressure does, but that's football."

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