Aitor Karanka: 'Middlesbrough will need same intensity at Riverside'

Aitor Karanka has warned his side that they will need to play with the "same intensity" in the second leg of their Championship playoff tie with Brentford after beating the Bees at Griffin Park this evening.

Fernando Amorebieta scored in stoppage time after Andre Gray cancelled out a first-half header from Jelle Vossen, giving the visitors a 2-1 win ahead of next week's meeting at the Riverside.

The manager told Sky Sports News: "This match was as intense as I could have imagined. This league is amazing and from my first day here, it's what everyone told me. It was a typical Championship game and I'm learning every second in this country.

"Having the advantage is very, very important. Brentford are a very good team, and they had chances especially at set pieces. We'll have to work at the same intensity as today but we need to keep the ball more.

"It's an amazing win and the lads deserve it. Football is sometimes a risk. Two weeks ago we sent Dimi Konstantopoulos up for a corner and conceded a goal. Today we sent Fernando up and it worked. It's very good for him, he's an experienced player and he's settled in with the lads very well."

The winner of this tie will face either Norwich City or Ipswich Town in the final at Wembley for a place in next season's Premier League.