'Massive step forward' despite cup exit - Hellberg

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg insisted his side took "a massive step forward" despite exiting the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday . Jorgen Strand Larsen scored headers in each half before Daichi Kamada added a third as Palace advanced to the fourth round. Hellberg admitted his players needed to be better in certain moments but was happy with the performance and, with more players coming back from injury, believes competition for places will see the team get even better. "It is tough to say it was a 3-0 game," he told BBC Radio Tees. "In many ways we were quite good. When they were around our box they were better and we don't defend the first two goals as well as you need to. In general, we had a good game, we had chances to score at 1-0. "We were around their box a lot of times but we need to do more in those moments, be more direct, take the ball central when we had the chance but in general a lot of positive things even if the result was not what we wanted. "It feels tough to be down 2-0 after 55 minutes but that is also a quality thing. It should have been a more even game for a longer time. "I have a lot of different players and now more people are coming back and you can see the quality in the squad and how they want to work and how we play football. "We need to keep taking steps around the two boxes, but I think this game in terms of how we play was a massive step forward against a very strong side. There will be a lot of competition around and you need to take your chance when you play." The trip to Selhurst Park was Boro's fifth away game in six matches and their third over the past week. Hellberg is glad to be back home against Norwich on Saturday but is delighted with how his players have handled the schedule. "It has been travelling all the time and hotels and everything so it will be nice to be back at The Riverside," he said. "I am happy and pleased for the supporters and how the players have done over this week and played football. A lot of the things we have done have shown we are on a good path forward." Latest Middlesbrough news, analysis and fan views