MICHAEL Carrick admits his Middlesbrough side have collapsed far too frequently this season - but was angry with the "bad decision" that led to their latest defeat against Bristol City.
Boro were on course for a much-needed victory at Ashton Gate after Tommy Conway's first half opener.
But home boss Liam Manning's substitutes just after the hour mark changed the game and George Earthy, one of the players introduced, scored twice as Bristol City completed a turnaround in the last 20 minutes.
Earthy poked in the leveller after 72 minutes and was on hand to score the winner 10 minutes later when Scott Twine's free-kick from the edge of the box cannoned back off the crossbar.
But Carrick was unhappy with the award of the free-kick in the first place after Kelechi Iheanacho was judged to have fouled Twine.
Carrick said: "The second goal, the free-kick they get is just the totally wrong decision and the situation we're in, we need things to go our way to give us a bit of a leg-up.
"I thought it was a bad decision, Kel has tried to jump out the way, he (Twine) has looked for contact, run into him and fell over and the referee is three or four yards away. He got that one wrong and they go and score off the crossbar.
"That's how the game panned out and after that it becomes a lot more difficult."
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Boro have thrown away points after conceding late goals against Preston, Sunderland, Sheffield United recently - and did the same again at Ashton Gate.
Carrick said: "We've done it too much. We've been ahead in games a lot and come away with nothing at the end of it. That's what's hurting us.
"They had a bit of the ball at the start of the second half but I didn't feel they were hurting us and they were getting frustrated.
"We were defending well and closing the space off for the most part. Then they get the free-kick. It looked like he was going to go down injured and played it quick and opened it up. And then the first goal changes the swing of the game."
Carrick added: "We don't have any excuses. The boys gave everything and when it's not going our way...
"It's an extremely tough run. That's how it is. We could have come away with a point, after the first goal you could feel there was a change in the mood in the place. To concede a second goal like we did, it was very disappointing."
Boro have now lost five on the bounce in the Championship and seven of their last eight in all competitions. They travel to Stoke City on Tuesday to play what is their game in hand on their rivals.
Carrick said: "It's not a good run at all. There's a way out for sure.
"Again, we've been up in a lot of games and not finished the game off and it was the same again tonight. It could have been different but it's not.
"It's on me and we have a really important game on Tuesday. We have to fully prepare and be ready for that."
