MARTEN DE ROON claims the players have already let Aitor Karanka down this season and now the challenge is to deliver the victories to help Steve Agnew keep Middlesbrough in the Premier League.

Boro were left frustrated on Sunday when they had to settle for a point despite an encouraging display against Manchester City that threatened to end in victory.

Despite a positive performance and result, the outcome was harder to take because Boro led twice only to be pegged back; including the controversial penalty when Leroy Sane went down under a challenge from de Roon in the box.

The draw has at least kept Boro's slender hopes of survival alive, although relegation to the Championship could still be confirmed next Monday if they fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Agnew has seen improved performances against Sunderland and Manchester City since the 4-0 drubbing at Bournemouth ten days ago, and he has lost only three of his eight matches in charge even if he has only won once.

De Roon thinks the players are not blameless for the situation Boro are in and there is a determination to finish the campaign strongly under the current head coach.

The Dutchman said: “It is always difficult to say if a change of manager is so important. I would never blame a manager really big. It is always the players. You cannot sack 25 players but you can sack the manager and hope for something great.

“I think as a team we let the first gaffer down and then we didn't get a win so soon after so I think it is our responsibility and not the coach.”

Agnew has tried hard to get more players in the box to attack since taking over the reins, having worked under Karanka whose focus was on keeping things tight at the other end.

De Roon said: “Every coach is something different. Since Steve Agnew took charge he tried to make it more of a team, make it a team performance, as a group of 25 players we have to work with each other. That is what he believes.

“Of course we didn't have a win for a long time before Steve and then not straight away after so of course the confidence is low. Winning a game is always a boost so I'm not surprised that after Sunderland we gave a better performance on Sunday.”

Having pushed Manchester City so close and threatened to collect back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2008, many have questioned why it has taken Boro so long to play like that.

De Roon said: “I’m annoyed that we see a performance like that on Sunday. If we had done that more often in the season or earlier in the season then maybe we would not be in this position we are now. Why didn't we show it ten weeks ago? That is something that goes through your mind, of course it does.

“It is so difficult to say what went wrong at that moment. It’s frustrating and disappointing that this comes so late. All we can do is say we will fight to the end.”

De Roon raged after referee Kevin Friend awarded City a second half penalty when Sane appeared to fall into the Boro midfielder when the ball was running out of play in the area.

It was a controversial incident and one de Roon felt ‘fooled’ by. He is, though, still heartened by how well they played and he hopes that attitude will continue at Chelsea.

He said: “We were very well organised in the first half, we frustrated Manchester City and we deserved the 1-0. Of course, you put a lot of effort into the game so the second half was tough, it was hard.

“And City changed their shape a little bit so it is normal they will get some chances but we defended very well. Then for me an unbelievable penalty decision.

“We stepped up as a team and with the crowd behind us we made a 2-1 and that was deserved also. It was an unbelievable feeling but then it was a big disappointment how easy we gave the 2-2 away, there we have to be sharper, more alert. At that moment, five minutes before full time, you can't give a goal away.

“But overall I was pleased. We showed we wanted to fight to give our last bit until the end. We did well against a very good side.”