Today wasn't our day - Johnson

Milan Djuric fired City into an early lead but Boro fought from behind through headers from George Friend and Daniel Ayala, both at corners.

There were moments of good attacking play from City, notably Josh Brownhill and Bobby Reid with the travelling side's best chances.

Johnson told BCTV: "I thought it was a great goal from Milan. (Josh) Brownhill had a great chance in the first half but the goalkeeper made a good save.

"We should have had two penalties through serious shirt pulling but the referee didn’t give us much throughout the game.

"And Brownhill saw a shot blocked at a good moment for us and then if you want that last one to fall to anybody on the volley, it’s Bobby Reid but unfortunately it wasn’t our day.

"I thought the players worked very, very hard but Middlesbrough made the better decisions as individuals."

Callum O'Dowda and Matty Taylor were Johnson's second-half substitutes but Ayala's winner came just seconds after the changes had been made.

Johnson explained: "I made the attacking changes to go and win the game. It was Aden Flint’s man who went on to score the goal and that was disappointing.

"Our two centre-haves, who are big and strong, have let their men go and it’s cost us two goals. I talked about the flow and clutch before kick-off and we weren’t good enough in the clutch moments today."

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