Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has criticised his team's performance following their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town at Portman Road this afternoon.

Goals from Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb condemned Middlesbrough to their first league defeat in nine games, and saw Mick McCarthy's side leapfrog them into second place in the Championship table.

"It was very poor and I was embarrassed," Karanka told the club's official website. "I told the players what their danger was; Murphy, who I told them about, he scored, Teddy Bishop was the best player on the pitch, and Tabb isn't big but scored a header.

"They wanted it more so it is easy to understand. I think we needed a day like today, we needed a kick like that.

"Last week everyone was excited but today we think about the future. Everyone was thinking about the Premier League and we are team who can make these mistakes when we we are flying."

Middlesbrough continue their season when they host Nottingham Forest at the Riverside Stadium on Boxing Day.