Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn Rovers 1: Apologetic Karanka angry as Boro denied

Middlesbrough manager 
Aitor Karanka apologised after being sent to the stands following Blackburn Rovers’ controversial late equaliser at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (Picture: James Hardisty).Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (Picture: James Hardisty).
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (Picture: James Hardisty).

Rovers striker Rudy Gestede powered in a 95th-minute leveller after Boro goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos appeared to have been fouled as he went up for a cross.

Middlesbrough players complained to referee Mark Clattenburg while Karanka and his backroom staff had words with the fourth official, David Coote.

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Premier League referee Clattenburg then made the decision to send Karanka down the tunnel early and the Spaniard was disappointed with himself for his reaction.

But the Middlesbrough boss remains furious at the decision to allow Gestede’s goal to stand.

Karanka said: “It’s very frustrating. I would like to apologise because my behaviour was not good and Middlesbrough Football Club deserves better from me.

“But it was tough to take because we had worked so hard for 92, 93 minutes and what we had worked so hard for was almost in our grasp.

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“I was sent to the stands for pushing the fourth official but I was arguing with him, not touching him.

“I thought the goal should have been disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.”

Boro had gone ahead in the 83rd minute when Patrick Bamford drilled through a crowded box.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Fredericks (Nsue 45), Ayala (Gibson 84), Omeruo, Friend, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Bamford, Tomlin, Adomah, Vossen (Garcia 74). Unused substitutes: Reach, Wildschut, Mejias, Veljkovic.

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Blackburn Rovers: Eastwood, Baptiste, Hanley (Henley 41), Duffy, Olsson, Tunnicliffe, Evans (Brown 86), Williamson, Marshall, Gestede, Rhodes (Conway 68). Unused substitutes: Dunn, Varney, Taylor, Kean.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).