IF Aitor Karanka thought guiding Middlesbrough back to the Premier League was challenging enough then avoiding an immediate return to the Championship could be a far greater task.

Provided Karanka can come up with a solution to his team’s first-half problems then staying in the top-flight will be a breeze, but making Boro resilient and consistent for 90 minutes is likely to determine what division they are in next season.

Tottenham found, just like Everton did a week earlier, Middlesbrough far too easy to score against in the first half and the only surprise was that Heung-Min Son’s two were the only goals registered before the break.

Middlesbrough showed they could be more of a threat going forward in the second half and made a game of it after Ben Gibson’s header 25 minutes from time. The Jekyll and Hyde performance is frustrating the head coach, but becoming a familiar theme.

From the six Premier League fixtures this season – with the goalless draw at West Brom the exception – Middlesbrough have performed better in one half than the other; even though the manner of the opening 45 minutes against Tottenham and Everton were the worst.

The concerns are increasing because Middlesbrough, who had claimed five points from an unbeaten first three matches at the top level, have dropped closer to the relegation zone, even if there are still 32 matches remaining of the season.

Karanka said: “We have one week now to choose and decide what kind of team we want to be. If we want to be the first half team we will have problems. If we decide to be a team like we were in the second half we will win a few games, so it is in our hands.

“Once again in the second half Tottenham were wasting time so that means we were playing really well, and it’s just to try to convince them that when we played against a team like Crystal Palace we should have beaten them.

“When we played as a team in the first 25 minutes against Everton and in the second half against Tottenham, we did well. It’s just to try to convince them that they have to play as a team for 90 minutes.”

It was not the ideal way to celebrate the 250th Premier League game at the Riverside and an inability to get the points means Middlesbrough have started a top-flight season with three winless home games for the first time since 2000-01 – when Terry Venables was lured in to save Bryan Robson’s team from relegation.

Karanka needs to come up with a way to make Middlesbrough more creative in the final third while also trying to ensure his side recapture their miserly ways that served them so well in the Championship.

Middlesbrough’s promotion surge was largely down to the number of clean sheets they were able to record, but in the Premier League they must score more or run the risk of losing frequently because they will inevitably concede against better opponents.

It was no surprise Middlesbrough looked more impressive for the final half hour when a bit more pace was injected into the play courtesy of Adama Traore’s wing play, while fellow substitute Jordan Rhodes did record a further header on target after Gibson had nodded in Stewart Downing’s delivery.

By that time Tottenham, who have the best defensive record in the division so far, had already gone two clear after a stunning first half which left Middlesbrough looking a shadow of the well-drilled team regularly seen in the Championship.

Son’s first, a left foot finish which goalkeeper Victor Valdes could only get a soft hand to, stemmed from him being allowed to move in from George Friend’s flank and clear of debutant Calum Chambers and Adam Clayton.

That arrived in the seventh minute and Middlesbrough did not get to grips with Tottenham until it was too late. Son’s second in the 23rd minute was a brilliant finish inside Valdes’ far corner, but that was the result of Antonio Barragan losing possession in the area.

Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko all had good opportunities to extend the lead before the break, when Middlesbrough were booed off by a sell-out home crowd, only to give the home side a real lift after the hour with their support.

Karanka said: “We made mistakes but the worst thing for me was the attitude, especially the first half because the second half was completely different. We were solid (last season) because we played as a team.

“When I came here two-and-a-half seasons ago the team conceded a lot of goals, we are conceding goals now so we have to fix that problem. The only way to fix that problem is with a good attitude like we had last season.

“We knew that Everton and Tottenham have more quality players than us but it is the attitude. The first half was awful for me and the second half was completely different. It’s true we have lost three games in a row but the team knows the problem, if you want to call it a problem.”

When Middlesbrough head to West Ham on Saturday it is likely Karanka will make more changes because that is how he has operated since taking over.

There will be more of a clamour to start Traore, a £3m buy from Aston Villa, because of the impact he had against Spurs. The former Barcelona 20-year-old looks raw but has plenty of ability. His speed is something the team is crying out for.

Karanka said: “I didn’t make any substitutions at half-time because I was hoping for a reaction in the second half but the reaction came with Adama and Jordan Rhodes coming on, so for that reason I am pleased for both of them.

“I know everybody is going to speak about Adama this week but we have to be calm with him because his potential is huge. I have to teach him because he is a young player who has to learn.

“His pace is the reason he is here. He has to learn about tactics because sometimes he forgets his tasks on the pitch but if we can take something good from the game it’s Adama’s performance and the second -half performance was good.”

Karanka is convinced that under his watch Traore can fulfil his potential.

He said: “I brought him here because I think he can have an impact playing for 95 minutes. Now, at the moment, he’s coming off the bench.

“Last season was difficult, 19-years-old, he didn’t play, a different country, a different language.

“Now, with Spanish players in the changing room and with me and Spanish staff on the coaching team, I’m sure he will learn and he will start the game at the beginning. He’s training well, he made an impact today, so for him it’s a good step forward.”