Aitor Karanka: 'It's good we've got another game on Tuesday because this team always reacts well to a defeat'

Aitor Karanka is backing his players to bounce back from their Leeds loss by beating Bolton tomorrow night.

Boro’s 1-0 defeat was the first they’ve suffered on home soil since August.

The hosts, backed by the second largest Riverside crowd of the season, completely dominated a one-sided derby but couldn’t find a way past Leeds goalie Marco Silvestri, who made several outstanding saves to earn his team all three points.

The hosts suffered a further blow late on when Jelle Vossen was stretchered from the field with concussion and is almost certain to miss tomorrow’s game.

Karanka expects an positive reaction from his players against Bolton.

“It’s the best thing that we’ve got another game because this team always has a very good reaction after a defeat,” he said.

“We work very well after a setback and I think the best thing is we are at home on Tuesday.

“When we have had problems or have lost a game the following game we have always been good and I am expecting a similar reaction on Tuesday.

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A mystified Karanka admitted he couldn’t understand how his team lost to Leeds, adding: “It was the kind of day that you can’t explain how we lost the game.

“I don’t know how many chances we created but football is about goals, football is about points and we have lost.

“The Leeds keeper was brilliant. It’s not the first time that when we play a team the keeper is the man of the match but I can’t say anything bad about my players because they have done everything.”

“We are doing really well and we are in this position because all of the players have worked very well since the end of the season, I am very proud of them and we have to keep going.”

Boro slipped to second in the table as a result of the defeat, with Derby climbing to the top after beating Sheffield Wednesday and Bournemouth slipping to third as a result of their 3-1 defeat at Brentford.

It’s now incredibly tight at the top of the Championship with only five points separating Boro, who have 60 points, and seventh-placed Brentford, who have 55.

For the visit of Bolton, Mejias is likely to lose his place to Dimi Konstantopoulos, who was suspended for Saturday’s game, but Dani Ayala won’t be fit.

On Vossen’s condition, Karanka said: “I don’t know how he is but I hope it is nothing serious. The main thing is the player’s health and I hope Jelle is well as soon as possible.”

Karanka confirmed that Ryan Fredericks was fit and available for the Leeds game but he decided not to include him in the squad.