KIM Hellberg bemoaned the second half defensive errors that led to Middlesbrough's defeat at Blackburn, and admitted there are a "lot of things" that Boro need to improve.
Hellberg's side got off to the best possible start at Ewood Park when Jeremy Sarmiento fired them into an early lead, but they looked defensively vulnerable throughout and only led at the interval because of two fine saves from Radek Vitek and a brilliant goal-line clearance from Luke Ayling.
Boro were then stunned by a quickfire double from the home side after the break, with both goals soft and entirely avoidable.
Andri Guðjohnsen was allowed a free header from a corner to level for the hosts and the second was equally as charitable. Boro cheaply conceded possession, Vitek parried a cross that appeared to be going out for a goal-kick and Todd Cantwell took advantage of the ball-watching players in red to put Rovers in front. And Boro were then unable to force a way back into the game.
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There were elements of the display Hellberg said he was encouraged by, but he was particularly frustrated by the costly defensive lapses.
"I think the performance was a little bit of a step forward from the last game," said the head coach.
"I'm disappointed we're 1-0 up in the first half and don't get anything from there. The first half was okay and we should be happy to be one up, even if it's an even first half.
"And then there are 10 minutes of weak defending and bad positioning where they score their two goals.
"Overall Blackburn do a lot with very few opportunities but when they got to those opportunities they made a lot from it. The 10 minutes of defending around the two goals is not good enough."
Hellberg continued: "I'm frustrated but I can also understand we are not where we want to be.
"They had two shots in the second half and they're both goals. The set-piece goal we concede, it's so many people not doing good enough. That's not good enough.
"Then you're back to 1-1 and with the momentum of the crowd they get one ball into the box and score again."
Hellberg knows Boro must perform better than they did on Saturday and against Lincoln last week.
"We need to keep improving," he said.
"We will have to get better. It's a step forward in the way we play but there's a lot of things we need to get better. We need to get players back and all those things. But we should not lose this game, but that's what you do if you don't defend properly."
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