Reaction'We've got to be more clinical and take our chances'

An own goal from Amara Nallo, when he headed a cross over goalkeeper Harvey Davies, saw the away side take three points at the Kirkby Academy.

The Reds carved out numerous chances to get back into the game but Boro stopper Shea Connor denied them multiple times, before Nallo saw a stoppage-time header strike the crossbar.

Read on as U21s head coach Lewtas reflects with Liverpoolfc.com on the narrow defeat and also the positives to take from the display…

On the frustration of chances not being taken…

We are disappointed with that because it is part of the game. We've been quite tough on ourselves in creating more and getting more bodies in the box, and I think today to do that and then not finish it off is disappointing from our end. That's the reality, so to lose to an own goal and create what we created, it is one of them. But we've got to be better and we've got to improve in those moments. But as I've said before, I don't think we are a million miles away.

On how Nallo is after his own goal…

He hit the bar and he is a threat from set-plays. The goal, it's just one of them when he's put his head on it and it's looped in, so, disappointing but I thought the second half we controlled the game really well and he played a big part in that by being aggressive, defending on his front foot. Things like that happen and all you can do is just bounce back and I thought in the second half he did.

On the outstanding display of Boro stopper Connor...

I think we have been a little bit tough on ourselves because really the chances we created, the goalkeeper shouldn't have stood any chance of saving. That's not me being disrespectful to him because he's got to save what's thrown at him. Fair play to their goalkeeper, but we try not to hide things as a group this year and we've got to be better in them moments. The lads know that and we've just got to try to keep playing the way we are but finishing the chances.

On Rio Ngumoha's blossoming reputation and having to get used to three defenders closing him down on the wing…

It's up to Rio to find a way. There's also moments where he is one-v-one and we can identify them moments and not allow them to double up on him, so I think there's different ways. When the game was a little bit slow in the first half I think we allowed Middlesbrough to make the distances up easier, but we played with more pace and purpose second half. But it's tough for Rio, it's part of being a wide player and it's kind of the way it is.