Downing was named as captain for the first time against West Brom

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing admitted Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by West Brom took the gloss off captaining his boyhood side for the first time.

Downing, 24, who grew up on the Pallister Park estate in the town, admitted the proud honour was slightly tainted by the manner of the loss.

"I'm honoured to captain the team but I'm more bothered about getting a result," he told BBC Tees.

"I was over the moon when asked but it would have been better if we won."

It never looked like being Boro's day from the moment Brazilian striker Afonso Alves crashed a drive from the edge of the box against the bar in the first half as a string of chances failed to produce the elusive goal.

But Downing is confident that as long as the Teessiders continue to create opportunities, they can arrest their four-match losing slump.

"We're still creating even though we're not at our best and a lot of teams don't do that," he said.

"We deserved something out of the game and West Bromwich Albion can consider themselves a bit lucky.

"They had a lot of men behind the ball and it's hard to get through but we created chances against a team that came to defend.

"If we score they have to come out and play but we still kept going. Stick with us and we'll get it right sooner rather than later."

Boro are currently 16th in the Premier League and have won just two games from six in the Premier League this season, although defeat to Albion was their first on home soil.