Bournemouth 3 Middlesbrough 0: Karanka fuming as Boro pay the penalty

Spaniard Karanka saw his side concede two penalties and have a ‘goal’ disallowed as the Cherries leapfrogged Boro in the table.

Yann Kermorgant converted the first spot-kick before Harry Arter doubled the Cherries’ lead early in the second half. Brett Pitman completed the win from the spot late in the second half.

Boro chief Karanka said: “We had all the things against us. The penalties for me are unbelievable.

“I can understand mistakes because everyone makes mistakes, but I can’t understand behaviours. For example, when we had a disallowed ‘goal’ the linesman was laughing.

“I knew it was going to be a very difficult game because we played against one of the best teams in the league. It was going to be difficult and then I started to see the mistakes we made, especially in the first half. Then I started to feel the referee’s decisions.”

Kermorgant opened the scoring in the 12th minute, slotting his spot-kick into the right corner after Callum Wilson was bundled over by Tomas Kalas.

Arter celebrated his Republic of Ireland call-up by making it 2-0 two minutes after the half-time interval with a 20-yard curler which flew in off the inside of a post.

Boro thought they had got a goal back in the 68th minute only for Patrick Bamford’s header from six yards to be disallowed for offside.

Substitute Pitman rounded off the victory for Eddie Howe’s men in the 74th minute by converting the game’s second spot-kick after Albert Adomah fouled Arter.

Cherries chief Howe admitted Karanka had a right to feel aggrieved with the second penalty, but praised his side’s clinical play.

Howe said: “I’ve seen the second penalty and I probably agree with Karanka on it. The first one was a clear penalty.

“In tight areas we were excellent and clinical. It’s been a good all-round day for us with a clean sheet and three goals against the meanest defence.

“I’ve got so much respect for Middlesbrough, their manager and how they play, so to beat them so convincingly will be a big boost for everyone.”

Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith 65), Arter, Surman, Pugh, Kermorgant (Pitman 61), Wilson (Rantie 90). Unused substitutes: Camp, MacDonald, Fraser, Ward.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue (Forshaw 55), Kalas, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter (Whitehead 79), Clayton (Garcia 55), Reach, Tomlin, Adomah, Bamford. Unused substitutes: Ripley, Vossen, Omeruo, Wildschut.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Harry Arter.