AITOR KARANKA was embarrassed by the nature of a first half performance which proved the start of Middlesbrough’s downfall at Craven Cottage.

Boro will be playing out a play-off battle after next week’s final Championship game with Brighton at the Riverside if Bournemouth defeat Bolton on Monday night after losing 4-3 a dramatic match at Fulham.

The Teessiders had done well to come back from two goals down to level things up at 3-3 with two minutes remaining but then Ross McCormack completed his hat-trick deep in to stoppage time when he made the most of the decision to send goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos up for a late corner.

A point could well prove crucial come the end of the season, but Karanka was more annoyed with a first half display which saw Middlesbrough struggle to get going and they were one down at the break courtesy of a Michael Turner header.

The Spanish head coach said: “We had it in our hands to win the game and we did everything during the week to make sure we played the same way we did against Norwich but I don’t know what happened in the first half.

“It was like we were playing for nothing and then we conceded in the last minute before half-time. You can understand if players are tired, but it is embarrassing. It was amazing and I can’t understand it.”

After Turner’s opener was followed by a McCormack’s 55th minute penalty, Middlesbrough made a real fight of it after Karanka brought on three substitutes just after the hour.

One of those, Adam Reach, pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute with a lovely strike but then Fulham regained a two-goal lead when McCormack slotted in a second penalty three minutes later. This time it was Hugo Rodallega who was fouled and that also saw George Friend red carded.

But Middlesbrough battled back and when Daniel Ayala headed in Albert Adomah’s cross 17 minutes from time, the stage was set for Kike to flick a lovely header in to the top corner in the 88th minute to raise hope of an unlikely point – or even more.

But then McCormack broke and rounded Konstantopoulos in the 94th minute to leave Watford celebrating promotion to the Premier League and Bournemouth looking to join them on Monday night.

“We were much better than them in the second half and I need to understand what happened,” said Karanka. “When you need three points you have to take risks. I didn't think one point was enough but it's not that.

“We conceded a goal in the last minute of the first half. We can't concede those goals and have to learn from that. My concern was our first half. We could have won it in the second half.

“The play-offs was the aim at the beginning of the season. To finish the season with the play offs, having qualified, now we have to wait and see. Bournemouth have two games and we will see.”