MIDDLESBROUGH were last night warned to stop taking risks by their creative spark Juninho.

The little Brazilian was part of the Boro side that lost 3-2 to relegation favourites Fulham on Saturday.

Boro boss Steve McClaren opted for the negative approach by naming just one centre-forward - ex-Derby man Malcolm Christie.

Juninho was given the role of trying to provide the link between Christie and the midfield.

But Fulham's attacking impetus restricted the Teessiders, who were on the back foot for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

And Juninho is calling for Boro to quickly find the winning formula or face up to a season of struggle.

"It was very disappointing the way we played," said the 30-year-old, who is now in his third spell at the Riverside.

"Losing the game was more because of our mistakes rather than their quality. We were 1-0 up and they turned the result around which we shouldn't have let happen.

" I didn't like the way we played we gambled too much we are a passing team. We will have a very bad season if we keep playing like that."

And the former Atletico Madrid star admitted that he was just as annoyed with his own performance at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Juninho showed in patches his star quality, but he struggled to turn the match into Boro's favour.

He was replaced by goalscorer Szilard Nemeth on 73 minutes, as manager Steve McClaren decided to push for a point.

And Juninho is keen for his teammates to instill some camaraderie into the squad, which he believes will help them find top form.

"For me as well it was not that good a performance but the whole team has to get more spirit and be more together," said Juninho.

"To play in matches like that are impossible for me to play my best. It is always disappointing to be taken off. It was not good for me."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.