Tuesday 19 April 2016 23:29, UK
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka aimed a thinly veiled swipe at Burnley's tactics as Michael Keane conjured up a late equaliser to ensure the automatic promotion hunt remains a tight three-horse race.
Boro had looked on course for a seventh successive victory for the first time since 1987 after ex-Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes broke the deadlock at Turf Moor 70 minutes in.
However, the Clarets, who were facing the possibility of a first defeat in 20 league games and slipping five points behind their visitors and one adrift of Brighton, mustered an equaliser through Keane's scruffy finish in stoppage time to draw 1-1 and stay second on goal difference.
Middlesbrough had themselves benefited from late winners in three of their six successive victories, yet Karanka questioned why the Clarets resorted to a direct style in their quest for a leveller.
"It's football. We scored two goals in the last minute against Reading and against Bolton - (on Tuesday) they scored," the Spaniard said.
"The way we scored those goals, we always try to play good football and to arrive in the box playing football. They played just with long balls - that's the difference.
"We had our chances to score the second and the third and with George (Friend) and Gaston (Ramirez)'s injuries I had to make substitutions. The game was under control for us.
"They scored because they decided to play long balls and it's difficult to understand with that squad to play long balls. That's their style and it's been good for them.
"If you look at the games where we scored against Reading and Bolton, we try to always play football. It's my decision, my style and I am really proud of all of them. When we lose, we lose with our style; when we win, we win with our style."
Even before the game, Karanka had stoked the fire with his assertion that had he been in charge of Sean Dyche's squad, they would have been promoted by February.
Asked if the point was better for Boro than it was for Burnley, he added: "I don't care about other teams. My team is doing an amazing season, we are top of the table with three fixtures to go.
"I don't know if we are going to get promotion but I'm really proud of all of them. As a coach, you can't be prouder than I am now."
It was Keane again who proved to be the Clarets' saviour, having got an equally crucial equaliser in the dying stages of their 2-2 draw with Brighton earlier this month.
For manager Dyche, it was a reward for their perseverance, having fallen behind to the league leaders.
"He's right on the spot," he said.
"He's definitely grown into this mentality, to give everything for the cause. He's matured into that and grown into the game tonight. He's still adding to his game, the ruggedness and his belief as a centre-half.
"I'm really pleased with the whole group tonight, for the mentality. That's an important game, you go 1-0 down, that can defuel you. Not for us. We just kept on and on; eventually they cracked."
Although Karanka had delivered barbs about his team before and after the game, Dyche refused to engage in a war of words.
"They are a very good team and they've spent wisely. I think that was actually a compliment," he noted.
"Is (promotion by February) statistically possible? Every manager has their say, I've got total respect for every manager. I mean it sincerely. We're all trying to do the job, to be successful."
