Carrick happy with direction Boro are heading

Only two of Middlesbrough's starting XI at Leeds have played Premier League football - Ben Doak and George Edmundson, with just four top-flight substitute appearances between them

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick says he is happy with the direction his team are going in despite their loss at Leeds United.

Boro's 3-1 defeat at Elland Road on Tuesday means they have taken just four points from their past four Championship games.

But with his team lying in sixth place, Carrick believes they are still well positioned for the rest of the campaign.

"Leeds largely have players who have played a lot in the Premier League - that is where we are trying to strive towards," the former England midfielder said.

"I think we're going in a good direction and the way we've done it, we have to take confidence from that moving through the season."

With back-to-back away games at Burnley and Leeds in the space of five days, Boro have faced two of the hardest possible Championship fixtures.

Now they face winnable games at home to Millwall and away to Plymouth Argyle before Christmas as they aim to remain in the mix near the top.

"These two games in a small cluster have been two of the toughest we could get," Carrick said.

"We've done a lot of good things in those games and caused those sides problems.

"We'll try to carry on the momentum, but it doesn't mean we will. You don't take anything for granted and we've got a tough one on Saturday."