Kit Symons was left to rue two defensive lapses as Fulham slumped to defeat against Middlesbrough.

The caretaker manager's chances of landing the job on a permanent basis were dented as second-half goals from Adam Reach and Albert Adomah earned the home side a 2-0 win.

“If you are outplayed and the other team deserve to win, I've got no problem with that, but I honestly thought we should have got something out of it," said Symons.

“We conceded a very, very sloppy goal right at the start of the second half, which gives you a bit of a mountain to climb.

“It was a very sloppy goal from our point of view, very preventable. We had bodies back and we were in a decent shape, but we didn't deal with it.

“We got ourselves going again, they had a little bit of a spell straight after the goal, but then we soon came in the ascendancy and then we had three fantastic chances at 1-0 to grab the equaliser."

Tussle: Scott Parker in action with Lee Tomlin of Middlesbrough

After a goalless first 45 minutes, Fulham got off to a nightmare start to the second half when Reach put Middlesbrough ahead just 42 seconds after the restart.

Fulham came close to levelling when Tim Hoogland hit the bar, while Hugo Rodallega and Lasse Vigen Christensen also had chances to equalise.

But Boro wrapped up the points when Adomah's cool finish sealed a 2-0 win.

Symons added: “There are lots of positives to take from it but unfortunately it's a results business, as we all know, and that's very, very disappointing.

Under pressure: Lasse Vigen Christensen tries to hold off Middlesbrough's Lee Tomlin

“We conceded two very sloppy goals. Goals change games and full credit to Middlesbrough.”

Fulham: Bettinelli, Hoogland, Bodurov, Burn, Amorebieta (Smith 78), Parker, Christensen, Stafylidis (G Williams 59), Ruiz (Roberts 70), Rodallega, McCormack.

Subs (not used): Kiraly, Kavanagh, Hyndman, Woodrow.