AITOR KARANKA has called for Middlesbrough’s fans to trust the players like he does in the club’s push to bring Premier League football back to the Riverside Stadium after witnessing a dramatic stoppage-time win last night.

With Boro seemingly destined for a goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers ahead of the weekend’s fixtures in the Championship, skipper Grant Leadbitter calmly converted a 93rd minute spot-kick to lift the Teesside crowd.

It was a victory, on the back of a 3-0 defeat to leaders Hull 13 days ago, which lifted Middlesbrough up to third and to within a point of the automatic promotion spots and give all of the players – and the head coach – a lift.

But Karanka, who has seen the majority of teams head to the Riverside with a determination to keep the home side at bay this season, feels Middlesbrough’s supporters need to realise that not every game will go smoothly this season as he looks to deliver promotion.

“I didn’t know they are demanding but if so I am in the right place because I like this expectation, but it is curious,” said Karanka, who plans to use his free weekend by going to watch the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“I can’t understand frustration when we are one point behind top place and I can’t understand frustration when we will play against Everton in the cup quarter-final after beating Manchester United and I can’t understand frustration when we are playing against QPR who were in the Premier League last season.

“This is a moment when the crowd has to support the team. We have to be together. I don’t want to say anything bad against them because I have to say ‘thank you’ to them, but it was a surprise for me.”

The visit of QPR was Middlesbrough’s first since Karanka’s two-year anniversary in charge and he remembers when he took over how they were edging closer to a relegation spot and playing in front of around 13,000 fans in most home games.

Now Middlesbrough are averaging around the 20,000 mark and have serious eyes on going up as champions under his watch, so Karanka would like the fans to be patient.

“I knew I was in an amazing place and at an amazing club but I didn’t know that the fans have a small memory,” said Karanka.

“Two years ago we were playing against teams in the relegation position and now it is teams who were in the Premier League last season who are coming to the Riverside to defend.

“But the fans were booing and impatient, so I have to tell them they have to trust the players in the way I trust them.”

It was never a pretty night of football with glaring chances at both ends few and far between, although Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos was on hand to make a few routine stops.

That was because QPR, still boasting the majority of players who were in the Premier League with them last season, were effective as a counter-attacking side after showing an intention to shut up shop for long periods.

Eventually Middlesbrough got the break they needed when Daniel Ayala’s overhead kick was blocked on the line by Rangers’ Leroy Fer, who was sent off, and Leadbitter had his chance to score the winner from the spot. He delivered by sending Rob Green the wrong way.

Karanka, whose side now travel to Huddersfield next Saturday, said: “We played a team who were in the Premier League and it was a huge result for us, especially after our defeat at Hull.

“It is difficult to play against some teams at home but we are proud because QPR coming to the Riverside playing that way shows you are doing something right.

“My players showed they have personality because it was very difficult to play QPR. I told the players at half-time if we can play in the same way we would score a goal because it is impossible not to make a mistake in 90 minutes.

“They had players who were destroyed and tired and we scored in the 93rd minute. I am really pleased we won the game.

“I was really confident Grant would score because it is not the first time he has had to score an important penalty for us, so I trust him. It is a good win for us.”

Leadbitter will now miss the trip to Huddersfield through suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign.