Aitor Karanka: Middlesbrough lacked response to Fulham

Boro were frustrated, despite the efforts of midfielder Adam Clayton (foreground)

Middlesbrough failed to find a response to Fulham's defensive game-plan in Saturday's goalless stalemate, said a frustrated head coach Aitor Karanka.

Boro slipped to third, and four points behind leaders Brighton, after the draw and were unable to win at home for only the second time this term.

"It's a game we didn't play well in," Karanka told BBC Tees.

"They came here to not play because they wasted time from the first second, we didn't change or play in our style."

He added: "I'm disappointed because it's important to win the games at home."

Karanka left out Uruguay international Cristhian Stuani following his long journey to represent his country, and denied the week off from domestic duties had any effect on the Teessiders' performance.

"I think we won most games after the international break so it was not about the international break," Karanka added.

"We couldn't play the way want to, we were drawing, we had two strikers on the pitch and we couldn't deliver the ball into the box, I'm not really happy."