MIDDLESBROUGH might have left the pitch with shoulders slumped, but half an hour later Aitor Karanka and his players left the King Power Stadium with smiles restored to faces.

If the nature of Leicester City’s late equaliser meant a draw felt initially like a defeat, the nature of Boro’s performance meant they did not need to look hard for comfort.

Karanka and his players felt hard done by, not only by the timing of Leicester’s second goal deep into stoppage time but also by the perceived injustice that surrounded their first.

Yet the fact they had taken on the Premier League champions and deserved maximum points ensured that, by the time they had gathered their thoughts, Boro felt more encouraged than robbed.

“Once again we saw again that we are a good team, that we are playing really good games, especially in the last month, and now again against a team that won the league last season and who have qualified in the Champions League,” said Karanka.

“I think we should have won the game. We were better than them so we have to be pleased but again we would have preferred to win the game.”

Islam Slimani’s penalty in the 94th minute rescued a point for Leicester and left Boro with mixed feelings despite a strong display.

But the challenge by Marten de Roon on Wes Morgan deep into stoppage time left referee Lee Mason with little option but to point to the spot.

The real controversy had come 11 minutes before half-time when Calum Chambers was penalised for handball just a second after he appeared to be shoved by Morgan.

That gave Riyad Mahrez Leicester’s first equaliser from the spot at a time when Boro were dominant and the hosts were on the ropes.

“The key was before the end because it was so unfair,” acknowledged Karanka. “Football is about teams. I have been here for three years and have always tried to help the referees with feedback.

“If football is a team game then it’s important that the officials work as a team and once again I can’t understand one decision and that decision punished us a lot.”

Pre-match discussion around the King Power Stadium centred once again around a personal goal drought, but while Jamie Vardy’s barren run extended to 15 games, it was Alvaro Negredo who returned to the scoresheet to the delight of Boro’s travelling supporters.

The Spaniard had gone 11 games without a goal and taken his share of criticism in the process, but two goals on Saturday capped an excellent all-round display.

He last found the net on the opening day of the season but Karanka insisted he never shared the fans’ doubts.

“I have known him for a lot of years and I know how good he is,” said Karanka. “I knew how well he was working and that one day the goals would arrive so I am really pleased for him.

“But he scored two goals because the team has done an amazing job and once again I can say how proud I am of them and of the crowd because it was an important game for us.”

Negredo started and finished the move that brought the opening goal on 13 minutes, spreading play out wide to Gaston Ramirez and arriving in the box to meet his cross and find the top corner.

That seemed to have put Boro in charge, but on 34 minutes referee Lee Mason punished Chambers, Negredo’s protests only served to earn him a booking and Mahrez beat Victor Valdes from the spot.

It was harsh on the visitors, but they reclaimed the lead with 19 minutes remaining when Leicester’s back four became ragged, Negredo stayed onside and Adam Forshaw picked him out with a clever ball.

The Spaniard showed no lack of confidence with a fine finish.

Boro seemed destined for a hard-earned victory but deep into stoppage time de Roon hung out a leg and Morgan went down, with Slimani beating Valdes to leave honours even.

There was enough, though, to encourage Karanka in his mission to keep his side safe.

“I don’t know if we can survive comfortably but we have to keep going because our last five or six performances have been really good with the ball and without the ball,” he said.

“When we can play we showed that we can play but when we couldn’t play against the top teams we were very organised.

“The players know it’s going to be difficult but this is the only way to stay in the Premier League.”