Aitor Karanka has hit back at criticism of his 'negativity' and insists he will lead struggling Middlesbrough to Premier League safety this season.
The Spaniard is under pressure after a run of one point from five matches has seen the Teessiders slump to 17th in the table, with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.
Karanka has been accused of being too stubborn for sticking to a system of one up-front and for cautious substitutions when trailing in a game.
He bizarrely blamed Watford for stopping his side from playing during the second half of Sunday's 1-0 defeat at the Riverside, while he also encouraged nonsensical talk of a conspiracy against his newly-promoted team among referees.