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  1. 'Not a good run but there's a way out' - Carrickpublished at 22:50 21 February

    Michael Carrick watching onImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Michael Carrick saw his side lose their fifth game in a row at Ashton Gate

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says there is "a way out" as his side fell to a fifth straight defeat against Bristol City.

    Former Bristol City striker Tommy Conway had given Boro the lead but the loss means they remain 11th in the table, with just two wins in their past 12 games.

    "It's not a good run at all. There's definitely a way out, for sure there's a way out," he told BBC Radio Tees.

    "I think we've been up in a lot of games this season and we've not finished the game off and it was the same tonight.

    "It could have been a lot different, it comes on me and we've got another game Tuesday – another really important game – and we've got to prepare ourselves and be fully ready for that."

    Carrick also questioned the referee awarding Scott Twine a free-kick that led to Bristol City's second goal.

    "I thought they had a bit of the ball but it didn't feel like they were hurting us and were getting frustrated and I thought we defended when we had to, and closed the space off well for the most part," he said.

    "The first goal changes a little bit the swing of the game and then the second goal the free-kick that they get is just the totally, totally wrong decision."

  2. Boro must back Carrick - McAnuffpublished at 10:42 21 February

    Middlesbrough boss Michael CarrickImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Michael Carrick was appointed Boro boss in October 2022

    Middlesbrough should stick with Michael Carrick and back their head coach to get them into the Championship play-off places this season, according to former Reading, Watford and Crystal Palace winger Jobi McAnuff.

    Boro have lost five of their past six games and are in 11th place, four points outside the top six - albeit with a game in hand on all of the clubs above them.

    But chairman Steve Gibson is reportedly keen to see Carrick stay despite their miserable run.

    "I don't think there will be any value in getting rid of Michael Carrick," McAnuff told BBC's Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast.

    "They have had a couple of tough games of late, against Sheffield United and Sunderland. In the Sunderland game they were fantastic for 30 minutes and should have put the game to bed.

    "But under Michael Carrick there has always been an inconsistency - not just from game to game - but actually in the 90 minutes itself.

    "And it's been a really poor run, losing to Preston and Portsmouth and Watford away.

    "If you want to get in the play-offs these are games you have to win. There's no two ways about that so I understand the pressure and the speculation but you have to give him time."

    Middlesbrough were fifth following their win over Hull City on New Year's Day and Carrick has been surprised by their slip down the table.

    "I thought they would have a real good season this time out," McAnuff added. "They had a positive end to last season after a difficult start.

    "I think if they don't finish in the play offs it will be a really disappointing season, but he has to be given the opportunity to get them in the play-offs - and potentially get them promoted that way."

    You can listen to the full Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast on BBC Sounds.

  3. 'No sugar-coating': Carrickpublished at 19:13 15 February

    Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick makes a hand gesture during his team's home defeat by WatfordImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Michael Carrick gestures as Middlesbrough fall to a second successive home defeat

    Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick praised his players' attitude after their fifth defeat in six.

    The under-fire manager told BBC Radio Tees: "There's no sugar-coating it, we're in a tough spot at the moment. You could smell it and feel it around today, and (we need to) face up to the reality that results haven't gone as we would like of late.

    "I felt a lot for them because their attitude is top-class, honestly, they're desperate to do the right things and in sport when things aren't going for you and you're not in your peak mentality, the confidence dips a little bit and it becomes more difficult to play.

    "In the second half, how we reacted and tried to create pressure and opportunities, I'm proud of them for because it's not a nice situation to deal with.

    "It's totally my responsibility to deal with."

  4. Pick of the stats: Middlesbrough v Watfordpublished at 11:01 14 February

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    Two sides low on confidence face-off as Middlesbrough welcome Watford to the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

    Boro have lost four of their past five games in all competitions and won just twice in 11 matches overall over the past two months to slip to ninth in the Championship table.

    The Hornets have also lost four of their past five Championship games and have only one win in 11 games in all competitions since Boxing Day to lie three places but just two points behind Boro.

    The clash pits Michael Carrick against his former teammate Tom Cleverley, with the pair having played together 59 times in the Man United midfield.

    • Middlesbrough have won three of their past four league games against Watford (L1), though did lose the reverse fixture 2-1 in October.

    • Watford are looking to do the league double over Middlesbrough for the first time since 1989-90, though have lost on each of their past two league trips to the Riverside Stadium.

    • Middlesbrough are looking to avoid losing successive home league games for the first time since February 2024 after losing 3-2 to Sunderland in their most recent home game.

    • Since beating Sheffield Wednesday 6-2 in November, Watford have won only one of their past nine away league games (D4 L4).

    • Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney has been involved in three goals in his past two league games at the Riverside Stadium (2 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 24 home outings in the Championship.

  5. 'We can't keep saying the same things' - Carrickpublished at 22:59 12 February

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick wants his side to cut out the mistakesImage source, Getty Images

    Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick says repeated mistakes keep costing his side dear as defensive errors condemned Boro to a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United.

    "We didn't start the game particularly great, we got back in the game well," he told BBC Radio Tees.

    "I thought the second half was in the balance for a good spell but it got away from us in the end.

    "They were not good goals to give away, moments that turn the game and that was the story really.

    "Credit to them, they've done things well enough to win the game.

    "We could have done things better to stop the goals, that's pretty obvious and they are the moments that have turned things in the wrong direction against us of late and we need to flip it back.

    "There's always the next game, there's always the next result, there's always the next opportunity to do that but we can't keep saying the same things."