AITOR KARANKA has told his Middlesbrough players to forget about the past 46 Championship games and focus on winning the play-offs to get back into the Premier League.

Boro’s 0-0 draw with Brighton saw the Teessiders finish fourth in the Championship table, setting up a play-off semi-final with Brentford.

Boro hold the upper hand over the Bees, having beaten them twice already this season including a 4-0 rout at the Riverside in September, but Boro boss Karanka has warned his side over any complacency going into Friday’s fixture.

“We've beaten Brentford twice, but this is different,” said the Spaniard, who will take his side to Griffin Park on Friday, welcoming the Bees to the Riverside a week later. “We can't think we're better than them or go in over confident. We've got to forget the 46 games and concentrate on the next two.

"We'd have loved to win two- or three-nil on Saturday to send the crowd away happy, but it wasn't to be. We'd already achieved our aim of getting in the play-offs and I hope in a fortnight in the second leg we can show them our best performance to qualify for the play-offs.”

Boro’s allocation of tickets sold out within 25 minutes yesterday morning, but Karanka feels his side need to improve if they stand any chance of reaching Wembley on May 25.

"It's not important who we play against but we need to improve because the last few performances weren't good,” said Karanka, after the goalless draw in front of the Football League’s biggest attendance of the season of 33,381. “We were expecting an amazing game with the fans behind us, we have another game at home to thank our fans for this season. We have to prepare as well as we can.

"It's not a worry, it's frustrating for me, and I always want more. It's been an amazing season and we can't forget now we have to prepare well and be more together than ever to go into the play-offs in a positive way. Promotion is in our hands.

"We have a week to prepare in the best way and look to get a result. I'm excited by the challenge. I arrived here 17 months ago and my objective was to play the play-offs and we've achieved that. The players have been amazing. I have to keep learning.”

Middlesbrough had sold out the Riverside Stadium ahead of their penultimate game at Fulham, with the expectation that there would be all to play for on the final day of the season.

But Boro’s defeat at Craven Cottage turned Saturday’s final game of the regular campaign against Chris Hughton’s Seagulls side into a near-dead rubber.

There were still places to play for – Boro could have finished third or fourth upon the close of play on Saturday, with the other play-off places still to be decided on the final day.

But the game lacked the intensity usually present in Middlesbrough matches this season, with the pace often resembling a pre-season friendly. Tellingly, Boro made their substitutions early, while Patrick Bamford was not risked.

Chances were few and far between, but it was Middlesbrough who enjoyed the lion’s share. Albert Adomah tested Albion stopper Christian Walton – making only his third appearance of the season – early on, the Ghanaian winger cutting inside from Kike’s smart pass to fire low into Walton, who tipped around the post.

Adam Forshaw, playing in an advanced role behind Kike, cushioned a volley into Walton’s hands moments later, before Dwight Tiendalli, Kike and Adomah combined well for the latter to see his shot deflected for a corner on the half-hour.

Boro have been in control of their own destiny throughout this campaign, but they could not control who they would be facing in the play-offs. The pendulum swung from Norwich to Brentford, with even Wolves in with a shout early on, but as the game progressed it became increasingly apparent that a Friday evening trip to Brentford was on the cards.

Perhaps this distraction led to the subdued atmosphere around the stadium, but although the game threatened to burst into life after the interval – Kike and Adomah both went close on the resumption of play – in truth, it never reached second gear.

Beram Kayal fired over from a good position before Chris O’Grady did similar for the Seagulls, before Kike, who led Boro’s attack admirably, forced a save from Walton late on.

Derby County, for so long a rival of Boro’s in the race for promotion, missed out completely after losing at home to Reading, a result that surprised Karanka.

"It's a big surprise about Derby not getting in and a very good thing for us. It shows how difficult this league is. I thought they'd be in the highest position and now they’re on holiday,” said the manager.

"It's an amazing season for us. If you look at what happened with Derby for example, then we've had an amazing season to finish in the play-off positions. It's the first time in the play-offs for me so I have to learn quickly.

“Derby signed six players in January and I thought they could get promotion so that's the Championship for you. It's a very tough competition.

Bamford, who featured in the play-offs for the Rams last season, faces a race to be fit for the trip to Griffin Park, but Karanka remains hopeful the Championship’s best player will be at his disposal.

"I hope Patrick’s okay for the first play-off game and I hope he can play,” said Karanka. “Patrick had a little problem and we didn't want to take a risk and I hope he can play on Friday.

"I hope Patrick will be ready for the play-offs. Jonathan Woodgate could also figure, with his energy and experience he is vital to us. This team has a great character and great spirit.”