Brad Jones is confident Middlesbrough will cut out the late lapses that have cost them dearly so far this season.
Boro goalkeeper targets regular role
Goalkeeper Brad Jones is confident Middlesbrough will cut out the late lapses that have cost them dearly so far this season.
Manchester United capitalised on defensive errors by Chris Riggott and David Wheater in the last 11 minutes to claim a 3-1 Carling Cup victory over Boro last night.
That came four days after a late Michael Chopra double gave Sunderland a 2-0 win in the Wear-Tees derby.
The previous week Jermain Defoe claimed an 86th-minute winner for Portsmouth against Boro, while Gareth Southgate's men leaked two goals in the last four minutes to lose at Liverpool last month.
Focus
"It is something we have looked at and, in the end, it is concentration and fitness," said Jones.
"The fitness is quite good, so it is basically down to the concentration of the players.
"We had a similar problem a couple of years ago, I remember.
"It is something that maybe takes a couple of games for players to click and to understand when it gets to those last few minutes, that's when you have got to concentrate doubly hard."
Jones had returned to the starting line-up at Old Trafford for the first time since the opening game of the season after dislocating a finger in the warm-up at Liverpool.
That handed Ross Turnbull a chance to impress but now Jones is hoping to show he is the rightful successor to Mark Schwarzer, who left Boro for Fulham this summer after 11 years at the club.
Injury setback
"The gaffer said at the start of the season, 'when you get your chance, do well', and he said that to both Ross and I," said Jones.
"I was unfortunate to come in and play and then get injured, but in the end, Ross has come in and done his job.
"It's a difficult position for me at the moment, not getting back into the team, but as long as Ross is doing well, I can't really have too many complaints."
