Hammers loss gives Boro boss Karanka confidence

His side may have lost 3-1 at home to West Ham, but Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is adamant the performance gave him more hope that his side will survive in the Premier League.

Andy Carroll’s brace – his first away from home in the Premier League – helped the rejuvenated Hammers to a win at the Riverside, but Karanka is still confident in his side’s abilities.

Boro are 16th in the table, four points above the relegation zone but without a win in five Premier League matches.

Karanka, though, enthused about his side’s performance and said it showed signs of improvement from the stalemate at Watford last week.

“It is not a Saturday to complain, it is one to be proud of the players,” he said.

“The goals we conceded can be prevented – it’s not a game to blame individuals and we win and lose as a team.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

“We have to keep going, add experience from this game and we are still in a good way.

“I said at the start of the season that if we finish 17th that will be perfect – and that is still the case.

“I am disappointed because a week ago we finished the game and it wasn’t the best to watch.

“Saturday was great to watch but ended badly for us.”