Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has said that he "can't believe" his side suffered their first home defeat since August against Leeds United.

Leeds won 1-0 at the Riverside after Alex Mowatt's deflected shot on three minutes gave them victory, following an error by Boro keeper Tomas Mejias.

"It was amazing, I can't believe we didn't win the game," Karanka told the Middlesbrough website. "We did everything to win and we have lost but now we have to think about the future we have another game on Tuesday.

"I thought our performance was good and we had many chances but we can't forget our efforts and we have another important game on Tuesday."

Karanka also defended leaving Patrick Bamford and Lee Tomlin on the bench.

"The players who played in those positions were fresh and Patrick and Tommo had played on Wednesday against Birmingham," he said.

"I don't think with them on the pitch we would have won the game because we created a lot of chances but we just didn't finish them"

Boro host Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday in the Championship.