RESULT! Ward’s winner makes Karanka even crankier

AITOR KARANKA was left to moan about Middlesbrough’s second-successive defeat after the Teessiders were toppled as Championship leaders.

Nottingham Forest claimed their first victory at Boro since Brian Clough side’s 2-1 win at Ayresome Park in 1993 as Jamie Ward’s 70th-minute goal ended the 23-year hoodoo and enabled Hull City to leapfrog Boro at the top of the table.

But Karanka insists he can fix the “problem” after his men lost their first back-to-back games since April 2014.

“Losing at home is disappointing but it’s not just the game today it’s the last three games now,” said the Spaniard. “They have been really poor.

“We have two weeks to work in the office and two

STEVE MORGAN weeks to work on the training pitch.

“We’ve lost two games but we’re still in the top two and I’m really optimistic.

“I know the reason for the problem but I prefer to fix it on the training ground. I know the reason and I can fix it. The problem is when you’re in a bad run and don’t know why but I know the reason. “With these players we’re at the top of the table. We’ve been together the last six months. We’ve got two weeks to work and I want to transmit a positive message.

“It’s not by chance we’re near the top of the table.”

Boro dominated for large periods of the game but struggled to break down their stubborn opponents.

It is the first time they have conceded at home in ten games in what is only their second defeat at the Riverside this season.

But Forest manager Dougie Freedman says the win was no fluke.

“It’s a big result for us,” he said.

“Boro don’t lose goals. The last time Forest won here Mr Clough was in charge so it’s been a long time.

“We came here with a good plan we’ve got a good spirit. We lost Henri Lansbury a few weeks back but we’ve got a resilience about us.

“That was our toughest match of the season because they grind you down and never stop going.”