We Are Middlesbrough

"I think we are turning a corner now, I hope. I still don't 100% trust this team."

BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison is joined by former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison and Boro fan Dana Malt to discuss back-to-back wins - but does the turnaround mean the five-match losing streak has been left in the past?

Includes interviews from boss Michael Carrick and Saturday's match-winner Finn Azaz after the 1-0 win over Derby.

You can listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick says his side feels like they earned their 1-0 win over Derby County.

Finn Azaz's goal 10 minutes from full-time was enough as Carrick's side recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since November.

It moved Boro up to eighth in the Championship, two points off the play-offs.

"I think it was a tough game," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"I thought we played some good football, especially in the first half, we had some opportunities and they've got as lot to hold on to.

"They made it difficult for us and we had to find a way of getting over the line, which we haven't done enough this season, but it was a good step for us.

"Everyone played their part and it's just as good winning like that as any other way, to win late in and feel like we've earned it, so a good day."

The Riverside will play host to a game with interest at both ends of the table as Derby visit Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro stopped the rot after five straight league defeats with a 3-1 win at Stoke in midweek and are still only four points behind fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion, despite having briefly slipped into the bottom-half last weekend.

The Rams are winless since Boxing Day and have scored just two goals in their past nine games to slide to second-bottom, four points from safety.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their past nine league games against Derby County (D4 L3), though both victories in that time have come at the Riverside Stadium.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in August, Derby County are looking to record a first league double over Middlesbrough since the 1988-89 season.

• Middlesbrough have lost their past two home league games, last losing three in a row at the Riverside Stadium in April 2022.

• Derby have failed to win any of their past 11 league games, suffering nine defeats in that time (D2). They last had a longer run between September 2007 and August 2008 (36 games).

• Derby have failed to score in each of their past three league games, last having a longer run without a goal in March 2021 (4).

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to BBC Radio Tees ahead of the Championship clash with Derby County at the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key takeaways from his pre-match press conference:

• The fitness of centre-backs George Edmundson and Rav van den Berg will be assessed after they both picked up injuries in the past two games. Jonny Howson, Riley McGree and Ben Doak all remain out.

• Carrick is "delighted" for Marcus Forss who scored his first goal since returning from an injury lay-off in the 3-1 win at Stoke on Tuesday.

• The head coach said: "He's worked hard to get back in and around it, to get back to fitness and it was a good moment for him. I thought he played really well the other night. His goal was a fantastic finish."

• On the mood around the squad after ending a run of five straight defeats: "It's been good, honestly I've not noticed a massive difference, especially around the boys. The way they've behaved and the energy and the noise around the place, it's still there. Certainly on the inside, it's a nicer feeling."

• On facing Derby: "It will be a challenging game for us. They're near the bottom of the league and they've got a lot to play for and a lot to fight for. They made it difficult for us when we played them at their home."

• Carrick added: "We definitely know what we're in for. We're not getting carried away by any stretch by the fact we've won one game and all of a sudden everything's great - it's one step at a time."

• On trying to build momentum: "Momentum is big. It went against us for a period of time and we need to create that. It's only us that can do that by winning games ultimately. It's not going to be created by one day or two days, it's over a period of time. We have to have all eyes on this and not get too far ahead of ourselves."

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway says the 3-1 win at Stoke City on Tuesday night "means everything" to the team after ending a run of five straight defeats.

Boro eased the pressure around Michael Carrick with victory in the Potteries that moved them back within four points of the play-off spots.

"Everyone knows the run we've been on hasn't been a good one over the past couple of weeks and we've been trying to put it right but for some reason it hasn't been falling for us," Conway told BBC Radio Tees.

"But I thought everyone put in a fantastic performance. Credit to everyone, I'm just buzzing for everyone that we've managed to come away with three points."

Conway was on the scoresheet at the bet365 Stadium for the second game in a row and took his Championship goal tally for the season into double figures.

The 22-year-old scored 12 in all competitions, in each of his two previous campaigns with Bristol City, but is now on-pace to eclipse that personal best.

The Scotland international is helping fill the void left by Emmanuel Latte Lath's departure and says he is "100%" hitting form now after a five-week absence because of a hamstring injury.

"Getting back into the rhythm of playing games week in, week out - we know the relentlessness of the Championship," Conway added.

"I'm just trying to do my job and score goals. I feel like I'm getting better and better every game and hopefully that continues."

Conway also believes Middlesbrough can get their play-off bid back on track and continue to close the four-point gap to the top six with struggling Derby County the visitors to the Riverside on Saturday.

"When we're not winning football matches, we're not doing our jobs and it affects us," Conway added.

"When you win games, it ultimately goes the other way and you start getting your confidence back and everyone starts believing again.

"If we take that into the next couple of games leading up to the international break, I think we'll be right up there."

Listen to Tommy Conway's interview following the win at Stoke on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick says a first win in six has delivered a "big boost" to his squad.

The Boro head coach told BBC Radio Tees: "We can take a lot from it. I think the boys will feel that and hopefully it will give them a big boost. We have to do it all again on Saturday but we are certainly going in in a good frame of mind after this.

"It wasn't so much the result it was how we got it and how we played, the expression and that confidence on the back of a run we've had. It would have been easy to go safe but I thought they have done the absolute opposite and shown real personality and class and belief in each other.

"I think the way the boys bounced back from that moment [the equaliser] which was another moment which could have gone the other way. They could have thought is it a lead we have not capitalised on but no, they doubled down went forward and scored some really good goals.

"It is just a really really good night and it has been a long time coming but it is a deserved one. We can take a lot from tonight."