'No sugar-coating': Carrick

Michael Carrick gestures as Middlesbrough fall to a second successive home defeat

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick praised his players' attitude after their fifth defeat in six.

The under-fire manager told BBC Radio Tees: "There's no sugar-coating it, we're in a tough spot at the moment. You could smell it and feel it around today, and (we need to) face up to the reality that results haven't gone as we would like of late.

"I felt a lot for them because their attitude is top-class, honestly, they're desperate to do the right things and in sport when things aren't going for you and you're not in your peak mentality, the confidence dips a little bit and it becomes more difficult to play.

"In the second half, how we reacted and tried to create pressure and opportunities, I'm proud of them for because it's not a nice situation to deal with.

"It's totally my responsibility to deal with."