Aitor Karanka: Pleased with his captain

Aitor Karanka praised Middlesbrough skipper Grant Leadbitter for keeping his head to seal a dramatic stoppage-time win over Huddersfield in the Sky Bet Championship.

Midfielder Leadbitter coolly slotted home a last-gasp penalty for a double which took him to six goals for the season and sealed a 2-1 success.

Karanka said: "He is a great example to the other players.

"He is one of those players who impressed me when I first came here. He is the kind of player who is a strong character and is always working. In bad moments he is always there."

Leadbitter struck a stunning 35-yard free-kick, a rising drive into the top right hand corner, to open the scoring in the 36th minute.

Karanka said: "It was a brilliant goal and the penalty came at a difficult time for any player to stand up and score."

Leadbitter's opener was a beauty which came after a strong opening from a Town side seeking a first home win since March.

James Vaughan was put through by a defence-splitting pass from Nahki Wells, but his first touch was poor and he slammed into keeper Dimitros Konstantopoulos with his foot high, sparking furious reactions from Boro players and fans.

That earned a booking and there was a four-minute hold-up with arguments all over the pitch.

Tensions threatened to boil over when Town captain Lee Peltier and Boro striker Lee Tomlin clashed after George Friend felled Mark Hudson, leaving him needing treatment.

There was another flashpoint in the tunnel at the end of the game but stewards moved quickly to keep order.

After the game Karanka said: "I didn't see what happened and I haven't spoken to the referee."

Town boss Chris Powell, meanwhile, was also staying tight-lipped and said: "I understand there was a situation but until I pin it down I don't know what has happened."

Town equalised four minutes from time when sub Jon Stead, who replaced the injured Vaughan, swept home Jacob Butterfield's cross.

But in the second minute of stoppage time young defender Tommy Smith inexplicably pulled back Adam Reach in the box - after the ball had gone - and Leadbitter sent Alex Smithies the wrong way to snatch the victory.

Powell was denied a point in his first match in charge and said: "It was a really disappointing end because we had managed to get ourselves back into the game.

"When you equalise late on you will take a point, especially when you have three games in a week.

"Sadly we made a poor mistake and Tommy Smith is a young player who will learn from that. You shouldn't be doing things like that in the 92nd minute."

Powell praised the spirit of his players and added: "It got a bit spicy but that shows we care and are willing to fight."

Stead, who struggled last season after his move from Bristol City, scored his second goal of the campaign to put Town back in the game and Powell said: "Jon came on in difficult circumstances against two big, dominant centre-halves but he got his goal.

"Like all the players he will be looking at me and thinking he has a chance, a fresh start, and I want to utilise everyone in the squad.

"I won't write players off if previously it hasn't worked out for them. Hopefully we might have seen a player who has been given a new lease of life."

Karanka has signed 12 new players this summer but he said: "We will need them and hopefully we will steer clear of injuries and suspensions."

Boro left new signings Jelle Vossen and Yanic Wildschut on the bench and Karanka said: "The fans will have been expecting them to start but I will pick a team to win matches.

"We have six games in 19 days and we will need all the squad."