ALVARO NEGREDO had warned the champions that it was only a matter of time before he rediscovered his scoring touch.
And he was true to his word with a spectacular brace that leaves Leicester needing a couple of miracles to avoid the unlikeliest double ever – Champions League glory and the loss of their Premier League status.
The champions are only two points off the relegation zone and manager Claudio Ranieri admits: “We wanted to win because of our position in the table. We have to be ready to fight against a relegation battle.
“We knew it would be tough, not easy going behind twice. They scored during our best moment but we showed character.’’
Maybe so, but not even the point they salvaged in stoppage time, with their second penalty of the game, could disguise a woeful performance – with Jamie Vardy the worst performer of the lot.
Riyad Mahrez and sub Islam Slimani saved them from the embarrassment of a second successive home defeat.
Negredo (above), on loan from Valencia, finally ended his 11 game famine in the 13th minute when he buried a Ramires cross.
Mahrez lifted Leicester spirits on 34 minutes when he put them level with a penalty after Calum Chambers handled in the box.
But after the break Negredo darted between Christian Fuchs and Wes Morgan to latch onto Adam Forshaw’s pass and put Boro deservedly back in front.
Boro looked set for three points until Marten De Roon felled Morgan in the dying minutes and Slimani fired home from the spot.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka was upset at the first penalty award and claimed that Foxes’ skipper Morgan owned up to fouling Chambers in the build-up.
He said: “If I had any doubt, which I didn’t, I was sure about it at half time. Morgan recognised (told) to one of my players that he had pushed him.
“We are working hard as a team and referee and linesman should work as a team, which they didn’t.”
The champions are only two points off the relegation zone and manager Claudio Ranieri admits: “We wanted to win because of our position in the table. We have to be ready to fight against a relegation battle.
“We knew it would be tough, not easy going behind twice. They scored during our best moment but we showed character.’’
Maybe so, but not even the point they salvaged in stoppage time, with their second penalty of the game, could disguise a woeful performance – with Jamie Vardy the worst performer of the lot.
Riyad Mahrez and sub Islam Slimani saved them from the embarrassment of a second successive home defeat.
Negredo (above), on loan from Valencia, finally ended his 11 game famine in the 13th minute when he buried a Ramires cross.
Mahrez lifted Leicester spirits on 34 minutes when he put them level with a penalty after Calum Chambers handled in the box.
But after the break Negredo darted between Christian Fuchs and Wes Morgan to latch onto Adam Forshaw’s pass and put Boro deservedly back in front.
Boro looked set for three points until Marten De Roon felled Morgan in the dying minutes and Slimani fired home from the spot.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka was upset at the first penalty award and claimed that Foxes’ skipper Morgan owned up to fouling Chambers in the build-up.
He said: “If I had any doubt, which I didn’t, I was sure about it at half time. Morgan recognised (told) to one of my players that he had pushed him.
“We are working hard as a team and referee and linesman should work as a team, which they didn’t.”
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