We were lacking admits Karanka

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka said his side lacked “spirit and character” in the 1-0 home defeat to Reading.

Simon Cox’s early goal consigned the hosts to a second straight league defeat and third in four games.

“We were a team without spirit and character, especially in the first half, and we have to improve our consistency,” Karanka told BBC Sport. “The best thing is to have two weeks to work again with all of the squad together. We need to improve and recover our style.

“We are speaking with [Genk striker Jelle] Vossen and other players,” he added. “I expect to be working [on transfers] until the last second on Monday.”