MIDDLESBROUGH boss Aitor Karanka accused Burnley of using ‘long ball’ tactics to salvage a point in their top-of-the-table clash at Turf Moor.

Jordan Rhodes had given Boro a second half lead in the promotion showdown, but Michael Keane turned Matty Taylor’s corner home from close range in injury time to extend Burnley’s unbeaten run to 20 games.

And afterwards Karanka insisted the Clarets had gone direct to get back into the game and suggested he would rather ‘win in style’.

"They scored because they decided to play long balls and it's difficult to understand with that squad to play long balls,” said the Boro boss. “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 play always 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."

Asked if the point was better for Boro than Burrnley, 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."

Middlesbrough had won their last two games in stoppage time but they were on the receiving end at Turf Moor as Burnley kept their place in the Championship’s top two.

"It's football; we scored two goals in the last minute against Reading and against Bolton - today they scored,” said Karanka.

"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.”