AITOR KARANKA has defended his decision to mix up his forward line and leave out in-form players after Middlesbrough suffered a first defeat of the season against Bristol City.

Even though tinkering has become a hallmark of Karanka’s reign at the Riverside Stadium, his decision to leave out Albert Adomah, Kike and Diego Fabbrini shocked supporters.

And, after Bristol City had left Teesside with three points courtesy of Joe Bryan’s eighth minute curler, his team selection was scrutinised further by supporters, even though summer recruits Cristhian Stuani, Stewart Downing and David Nugent all started.

But Karanka said: “When I pick the team, I have reasons for doing it.

“Fabbrini had played three games in a row and had no pre-season with us. Kike played two or three games in a row and David Nugent was fresh. Albert Adomah had played a few games in a row and looked tired at the end of our last game. I have reasons for picking the teams I pick.”

Middlesbrough, who face Burton in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, could not find a way through Bristol City to find a leveller.

The defeat might have been the first of the campaign, but it also means Middlesbrough have only won one of their opening four league games.

He said: “This is disappointing for us, no doubt about that, because we hoped to have more points on the board at this stage.

“But Bristol City did not surprise us. We have played two League One teams now - because we have also played Preston - and not beaten either, and so we don’t underestimate them.”