MICHAEL CARRICK has defended Zack Steffen and claimed the Middlesbrough goalkeeper was not at fault for Burnley’s second goal in yesterday’s 3-1 defeat at Turf Moor.

Steffen looked shaky for most of the afternoon as Boro crashed to their first defeat in six matches, and was beaten by a cross from Manuel Benson as the Clarets claimed the lead.

Benson’s inswinging delivery from the right passed all the way through the 18-yard box before finding the net via the inside of the far post, with Steffen appearing to hesitate as Jay Rodriguez attempted to make contact on the edge of the six-yard box.

Carrick said: “I wouldn’t blame Zack for that. The trouble is, if he gambles thinking everyone is going to miss it, he’s out of position if someone does touch it.

“I wouldn’t blame Zack for it. The fact it’s a cross that goes in is, from a defensive point of view, not an easy one to take.”

Carrick also defended Steffen over his booking for time wasting at a time when Boro were looking to hold on to their one-goal lead.

The American received a yellow card which energised the home crowd at Turf Moor, with Benson firing home Burnley’s equaliser just two minutes later.

Carrick said: “I don’t think that was timewasting, it was waiting for players to get up the pitch. It was soon after the Chuba incident (when Akpom was fouled on the edge of the Burnley box but nothing was given) and Chuba had come in to speak to the referee about that.

“So, you’re not going to kick it long when Chuba is in your own half still. For me, that’s a bit of a misunderstanding but the fans make a fuss of it, like they do, and Zack gets a booking. In the end, it wasn’t a big deal.”