Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has talked up his side's achievement of coming away with a point from both the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium this season.
Marten De Roon's stoppage-time equaliser earned Boro a point at Manchester City this afternoon, just a fortnight after they held Arsenal to a goalless draw in North London.
Karanka was not completely happy with his side's performance against Pep Guardiola's team, but he was proud that the players once again proved they can compete with the league's biggest teams.
"Arsenal and Man City have amazing squads, so for us to compete against them at their stadiums is good for us. This was much more difficult because against Arsenal we didn't concede a goal and we created a few chances," he told reporters.
"Today we went onto the pitch and showed them too much respect. In the first half we just tried to defend and when you are against big teams and you just think you are going to defend, you concede a goal. For that reason at half time I told them we had to try to play.
"I felt amazing because I had 11 players fighting 90 minutes on the pitch and I know how important it is to them to take this point or the one we took at Arsenal. This is the way to keep going, playing against these teams and showing we can compete."
The result leaves Boro 14th in the Premier League table, having lost just one of their last five matches.
Barney Corkhill
