Norwich City 1 Middlesbrough 0: Blunt Boro edged out by Jackson strike

The summer signing from Gillingham scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to move Norwich up to fourth place in the Championship.

Boro, without an away league win since April, nearly snatched an equaliser but substitute Scott McDonald fired wide.

Agnew said: "My initial reaction was that the goal was offside – the lads certainly felt so too – but the pictures I've seen don't tell you anything so I can't really comment on that.

"It was certainly a disappointing time to concede because I thought we did well in the first half. We were hoping to go in level and take the game to Norwich in the second half but obviously their goal changed things.

"In the second half I thought we had a lot of controlled possession up to the 18-yard area but lacked any real penetration once we got there.

"I told the lads that if they kept passing and moving an opportunity would come their way and sure enough we created one right at the end.

"Unfortunately for us Scott McDonald's shot was just wide. That was our big chance.

Asked if he was interested in replacing Gordon Strachan on a full-time basis, Agnew added, "It's not about me, it's about the football club, other people will make a decision on that. I have been told I will be in charge of the team for the foreseeable future and that's all I'm concentrating on at the moment."

Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Barnett, Ward, Steven Smith, McNamee (Korey Smith 80), Crofts, Fox, Lappin, Holt, Jackson (Chris Martin 70). Unused substitutes: Rudd, Hoolahan, Johnson, Daley, Berthel Askou.

Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon (Bennett 74), Wheater, McManus, Bates, Thomson (Smallwood 41), O'Neil, Bailey, Luke Williams, Boyd (McDonald 60), Lita. Unused substitutes: Coyne, Kink, Hines, Tavares.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).

Man of the match: Tony McMahon.