We Are Middlesbrough

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick was not happy with his team's defending but hailed their character after Saturday's 3-3 draw at Plymouth.

"I was pleased with the boys' character and commitment and belief to keep pegging it back second half like we did," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"I thought we were the better team second half, but first half we weren't at our best.

"You can't concede that many opportunities and goals and expect to win games every week.

"[With] the attacking play and opportunities we maybe could have scored more, but we just gave ourselves too much to do really."

Plymouth will seek to get back on track, and out of the Championship drop-zone, when Wayne Rooney welcomes former teammate Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough to Home Park.

Argyle are second bottom and a point from safety, albeit with a much more inferior goal difference on their rivals in the bottom three, while Boro are sixth and looking to close an eight-point gap to the automatic promotion places.

• Plymouth Argyle have lost three of their past nine league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D4), with this fixture last season finishing 3-3

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past eight away league games against Plymouth Argyle (W4 D4), since a 1-0 loss back in October 1964

• Plymouth have lost each of their past four league games, conceding 14 goals in total during that time. Not since March 2021 have the Pilgrims endured a longer losing run in the same season (five games)

• Middlesbrough have scored 19 goals in total across their away games in the Championship so far this season – the most of any side in the competition

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has recorded 14 goal contributions in the Championship this season (six goals, eight assists), with only Norwich's Borja Sainz managing more (15 goals, two assists)

• Azaz is one of only two players to record both at least five goals and assists in the competition, alongside Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer

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With Middlesbrough having won four of their past seven games and scored 20 goals in that period, this is a daunting task for Millwall.

Neil Harris will bid farewell as Millwall boss after the match hoping to have avoided a third successive defeat.

• Middlesbrough have won two of their past three league games against Millwall (L1), as many as across their prior nine matches combined against them (D5 L2).

• Millwall have won just one of their past eight away league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L4), though it did come in their most recent trip on the opening day of last season (1-0); they could win successive such games for the first time since April 2014.

• Middlesbrough have alternated between victory (4) and defeat (3) in their past seven home league games, winning 3-1 over Hull City in their most recent such game.

• Five of Millwall's past seven away league games have been drawn (W1 L1), last drawing three in a row on the road in the league in April 2022.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has been involved in five goals in his past four home league appearances (three goals, two assists), one more involvement than in his first 15 such games for the club (four assists).

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Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris could be fit to play again before Christmas, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

The 23-year-old suffered a twisted knee while on international duty with the USA in mid-November.

Morris had played in every Championship game for Boro since joining from MLS side Columbus Crew in the summer but has missed the past five with injury.

"Aidan isn't training with the group just yet, but he's progressing well and could be available before Christmas," Carrick said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall.

After this weekend, Boro travel to Plymouth on 21 December before a run of four games in 10 days over a busy Christmas and New Year period.

Carrick said it will be a "tough game" at the Riverside against Millwall for what will be Lions' head coach Neil Harris' final match in charge.

"We obviously know it's his last game," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. "He's done a really good job and they'd been on a really good run.

"They'll be wanting to try and bounce back for their own season, so I fully expect a really challenging game - an intense game and we will have to be at our best to win."

You can listen to Michael Carrick's pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees

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Middlesbrough find themselves 10 points from the Championship promotion places today after Sheffield United's victory at Millwall.

Boro are also a point shy of the play-off places after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Leeds United.

That was a game that saw Boro draw level in the second half after a first half that captain Hayden Hackney admitted to BBC Radio Tees Sport largely passed them by.

They then contrived to lose two further goals through some sloppy play and returned to Teesside empty-handed.

Michael Carrick's verdict was largely positive, insisting his side had done a lot of good things and that he doesn't think they are far away.

Those comments belied his demeanour on the touchline, where he was a lot more demonstrative than usual and showed flashes of real frustration and anger at some of Boro's decision-making in their own half.

He was also furious that an off-the-ball foul on Emmanuel Latte Lath during a Boro break wasn't spotted by the officials.

Carrick's view of the game was in contrast to the majority of Boro fans, who felt their team hadn't performed anywhere near the level they're capable of.

Indeed, it was a performance that fell short of their showing at Burnley last Friday when they came away from Turf Moor with a point, having made the better chances in the game.

This weekend's game with Millwall is one Boro have to win to resume the momentum they had been building before going to Burnley and Leeds.

The play-offs are a must, but despite there being more than half the season left, the top two may be disappearing over the horizon.

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Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has said he is wary of the challenge a "dangerous" Leeds United pose as he prepares to take his side to Elland Road.

Carrick was satisfied following Boro's 1-1 draw at Burnley on Friday but admits his team are set for another testing Championship evening against Daniel Farke's side on Tuesday.

"We know it's a big challenge, they're playing some really good football, getting some really good results and got some fantastic individual players," the 43-year-old told BBC Radio Tees.

"We've had some good games against them over the last year or so and I'm sure this one will be no different."

Boro comfortably saw off Leeds 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August but Carrick is not looking too much into that result.

"Every game is different but with it being in the cup there is a different side to it, they are kind of one-off games."

The former England, Manchester United and West Ham midfielder also confirmed that defensive duo Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel have returned to first-team training.

"Rav's back with us, he's been out for us for some weeks," Carrick said.

"Lukas has just joined in for the first time with us in a small capacity which is great, so we're in good shape".