Middlesbrough

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After a disappointing loss to Millwall saw Middlesbrough unable to jump into the top six, some fans have begun to lose faith that they will see the Teesside club in the play-offs in May - and they've also begun to question the head coach.

Boro were the dominant force in the first half but the Lions took the second half by storm after some tactical adjustments from boss Alex Neil.

When talking after the game, former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison told the Red Alert podcast that he thinks the game was lost in Middlesbrough's inability to adapt their game style to the hosts' changes.

"We all understand the way Michael Carrick wants Boro to play but you've also got to mix that identity up," Maddison said.

"Two games have gone by and the same thing has happened in terms of that first-half quality in the final third and then getting worked out in the second half."

Is boss Carrick too predictable and, if so, is it costing the side a chance at promotion?

Let us know your thoughts here.

"The word damaging will appear a lot in regards to this game because that's a really damaging defeat.

"I've never really trusted this team and I think today is another example of many, throughout the whole season, that indicates that. Just very disappointing."

BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison is joined by former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison and fan Dana Malt to discuss a loss for Michael Carrick's side against Alex Neil's Millwall - but who's to blame?

Neil's tactical changes turned the tide in the second half, whereas Boro's steadfast game style could not adapt to the chess moves from the home dugout at The Den.

Is the issue mediocre performances from the players or inflexibility from the manager?

Includes post-match reaction from Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Millwall and Middlesbrough meet for a vital contest in the race for the Championship play-offs on Saturday afternoon (15:00 BST).

The Lions are three points behind seventh-placed Boro and five points off the top six after three wins from their past four games.

Boro have won five of their previous eight matches (D1 L2) and are two points behind Coventry City in sixth.

• Millwall have lost both of their previous two league games against Middlesbrough, never before losing three in a row against them.

• After their 1-0 win in December, Middlesbrough could complete their fourth league double over Millwall, after 1928-29, 1973-74, and 2014-15.

• Millwall have won both of their past two home league games, as many as their previous 10 beforehand (W2 D3 L5).

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past five league games against sides from London. Boro have never won six in a row against capital clubs across their EFL history.

• Millwall's Alex Neil has only won one of his five previous managerial home games against Middlesbrough in the Championship (D1 L3), although that was his most recent with Preston in December 2020.

"The one thing we lacked was that composure in front of goal."

Matty Nixon and Neil Maddison discuss Middlesbrough's 1-0 defeat by Leeds United at the Riverside Stadium and give their views on the best role for on-loan forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

The episode also includes a post-match interview with Boro boss Michael Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick insists it is still all to play for in the last five games despite his side's narrow loss to Leeds United.

The home defeat was only a second in eight games - a run which has pushed Boro firmly back into the play-off picture.

They remain sixth but victory for Coventry City at home to Portsmouth on Wednesday will see the Sky Blues reassume the final play-off spot.

But the performance in pushing Leeds so close offers Carrick encouragement ahead of the run-in, which includes tricky away games at play-off dark horses Millwall and Coventry on the final day.

"A lot of our play and the creating of opportunities was really, really good," he said.

"But it's that final action which is the difference. They found it and we didn't quite find it.

"But everyone is really disappointed we didn't take anything out of the game after how we played and particularly after the start we had.

"We were the team pushing and pushing and pushing, especially in the second half, but we couldn't quite take the chances and that's football.

"We're disappointed because it's the result, but that shows where we are as a team. But it can't derail us and it doesn't change the season in many ways because the season is alive."

Image source, PA Media

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to BBC Radio Tees ahead of Tuesday's vital Championship clash with Leeds United (20:00 BST).

Here are the main takeaways from his press conference:

• The club are "still looking" at the injury Neto Borges suffered in the 2-0 win at Blackburn on Friday. "It looked like a really bad twist," Carrick said. "Unfortunate really, Neto's been fantastic for us. We will see how he is and how he can recover but it was a blow to lose him."

• Centre-back Dael Fry has returned to training following a calf injury and is "back involved".

• On Leeds' run of one win from six games (D4 L1): "It's similar to ourselves in many ways. It's a difficult league. You can have results and it doesn't necessarily mean there's an awful lot wrong. It's fine margins."

• He added: "We're fully expecting their best version, we know what they're capable of. We will expect that and be ready for that. There's a lot at stake for both teams".

• Carrick believes the fixture has "all the ingredients to be a good game of football". "The supporters will be up for it and all round, it makes for a really good night," he said.

• "The game is based on emotion and the passion of winning and you've got to use that," he added. "That's the beauty of it. That's why we all love the game because it drives you mad at times but it's the feeling of trying to get hold of something and achieving something."

Leeds United will look to end their run of three league draws with a victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday night (20:00 BST).

The 1-1 draw to relegation strugglers Luton Town on the weekend saw the Whites exit the automatic promotion spots, though they remain just two points away from regaining their spot at the top of the league.

However, they will need to secure victory against an in-form Boro if they are to get back into the top two.

The Teesside club is undefeated across their past four league matches (W3 D1) to find themselves in a play-off spot and will need a win to ensure they stay there, with Bristol City, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion all primed to overtake them if they earn three points of their own.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their last five Championship games against Leeds United, conceding 3+ goals in four of them.

• Leeds have won both of their last two away league games at Middlesbrough; only once before have they won three in a row against them on the road (2003 to 2012).

• Middlesbrough have won each of their last three home league games, last winning more in a row in March 2023 (run of 7).

• Leeds United have won seven of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D1) since a 0-1 defeat at Millwall in November.

• Leeds' Daniel Farke has won eight of his nine league matches against Middlesbrough (D1), the most he has defeated any club in his English league career.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio Five Live reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough will face more difficult assignments in the run-in than the one that transpired at Ewood Park on Friday night, but their return to form in recent weeks has been stark. Such momentum could give them edge in the play-off race.

When I last saw Middlesbrough, reporting for BBC Radio 5 Live in the middle of February, I witnessed a team short of guile, with vulnerability in defence and no control in midfield.

That was their 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United amid a five-match losing run.

Against a toothless and beleaguered Blackburn side, this time, they exposed the vulnerabilities of their opponents with a ruthless start, scoring two goals inside the first eight minutes.

They looked more streetwise, more confident and managed the game expertly.

There appears to be strong unity, too, between players, fans and a manager in Michael Carrick, who must take great credit for guiding his team back to form, two and a half years into a job he clearly loves doing.

Tommy Conway's exquisite touch and finish in the opening 80 seconds of the game was the highlight - he's steadily stepping into the boots vacated by Emmanuel Latte-Lath as an instinctive and reliable goalscorer.

A play-off place is in Boro's grasp, as they look to end their eight-year wait for another go in the Premier League, so long as they maintain such good mentality and strength.

Blackburn Rovers welcome Middlesbrough to Ewood Park for an important clash in the battle for a Championship play-off spot on Friday evening (20:00 BST).

Rovers have slipped to 11th and are five points off the top six following a six-game winless run (D1 L5).

Boro have won four of their previous six matches (D1 L1) to move level on points with West Bromwich Albion in sixth and would climb above Coventry in fifth with victory before the rest of the weekend's action.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost two of their past 19 league games against Middlesbrough (W8 D9) and are unbeaten in their past three (W2 D1).

• Middlesbrough lost their most recent league visit to Blackburn last season but haven't lost consecutive away games at Rovers since December 2006.

• Blackburn have lost each of their past four league games but haven't lost five in a row since February 2021 under Tony Mowbray.

• Middlesbrough have won four of their past six league matches (D1 L1), more than in their previous 15 games combined (W3 D5 L7).

• Middlesbrough are averaging 14.2 shots per Championship game this season (552 in 39 games), their highest average in a campaign since 2014-15 (14.3).

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says his side will not be distracted by the ongoing issues between the Blackburn Rovers supporters and their owners as they head to Ewood Park on Friday evening (20:00 BST).

Rovers fan groups have asked senior club officials to steer clear of Blackburn's remaining games this season amid discontent over the club's management.

Carrick acknowledges the tense atmosphere surrounding their opponents could affect the game but believes the side just need to have "tunnel vision" to find success.

"It's not really for us to get caught up in or almost think about too much.

"When you go away from home, most of the time it's about managing the atmosphere and trying to get up in the game or take control of the game.

"It's more about us and preparing for the game, training right, improving on last week and the game is going to take care of itself."

Boro will still be hampered with injuries, with much-needed defenders not ready to make the trip.

Dael Fry and George Edmundson are "getting there" but won't be ready for Friday, while Luke Ayling "isn't totally written off" but could be out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

Listen to the full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds

"Now the talk on the training ground is going to be 'we have to do our best every day'," Middlesbrough left-back Neto Borges tells BBC Radio Tees.

"We saw now in the second half, what we can do and that's the mentality we have to carry on."

Paul Addison and Neil Maddison are joined by Boro fan Dana Malt to discuss Middlesbrough's second-half comeback against Oxford United and how hopes for a place in the play-offs have been revitalised - but can the team keep the fans believing over the next seven games?

Includes post-match interviews from Borges and boss Michael Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Oxford United will look to continue their bounce back against play off chasing Middlesbrough at Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The U's ended a poor run on nine winless games (W5 D4) with a victory over Watford prior to the international break and will be looking to disrupt yet another top six chaser in Boro.

Though the Teesside club will feel victory is a must, having already dropped three points off the pace of the promotion hunting pack and could risk falling further away with the three teams above (Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City) all finding themselves in fine form.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their last nine league games against Oxford United (W7 D2), since a 3-1 defeat in February 1990.

• Oxford United have lost 10 of their 13 away league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D1), scoring just eight goals in total across that time.

• After winning each of their last two home league games, Middlesbrough will be looking to win three in succession at the Riverside Stadium for the first time since October 2023.

• Oxford have won just one of their last 10 league games (D4 L5), though that sole victory did come in their last fixture, a 1-0 home win against Watford.

• No player has provided more assists in the Championship this season than Middlesbrough Finn Azaz (11), whilst in the reverse fixture against Oxford, he recorded four goal contributions in total (2 goals, 2 assists) – his most in a league match during his career so far.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Eight games to secure the play-off place that was viewed as the bare minimum, both inside and outside the club last August.

Middlesbrough's season has been baffling to fans and media alike.

Michael Carrick's side sit just three points outside the play-off positions yet have managed to lose 14 games already (the most in the top eight) and recently emerged from a five-game losing streak.

They boast the third-most potent attack in the division and week after week we hear opposing managers talking about Boro's squad being one of the best in the division.

Yet many fans have long since given up on the play-offs and rail against any talk of reaching them as the stuff of fantasy.

Faith in Carrick was severely tested during a run of seven defeats in eight in all competitions between January and mid-February but recent times have seen Boro win three from five to keep the top six in sight.

The fact they did so in the midst of a defensive crisis has served as grist to the mill for both supporters and critics of the Boro boss alike.

When Dael Fry limped off in the closing stages of Boro's 1-0 defeat at Swansea City, it left Middlesbrough in the position of not having a single fit senior centre-back at the club.

With Rav van den Berg out with a troublesome knee injury and George Edmundson also sidelined with an ankle problem it meant full-back Neto Borges and midfielder Jonny Howson had to fill in.

Another makeshift centre-back, Luke Ayling, has also been sidelined with an ankle injury which might keep him out for the rest of the season.

It's a run of bad luck to be sure, but was it foreseeable? Well yes, because when Matt Clarke was allowed to join Derby County in January without being replaced the Boro boss was asked if he was concerned about a lack of depth in that position?

His answer was he didn't need another centre-back as three was probably going to be enough and Howson and Ayling could fill in if required.

So much of Boro's play-off prospects now rest on the shoulders of Howson and Borges. The pair put in sterling performances against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town before the international break but Howson is just back from injury too and the 36-year-old played both games without participating in a single training session.

With games at Blackburn Rovers and at home to Leeds United on the horizon the need for one or more of Fry, van den Berg or Edmundson to return is pressing.

Image source, Rex Features

At the top end of the pitch the loss of Liverpool loanee Ben Doak to injury has impacted Boro's attacking play. As has the departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath, sold to Atlanta United in January for a club record fee.

His replacement, Kelechi Iheanacho has yet to convince and hasn't scored since arriving at The Riverside. Boro need him to find his feet quickly to support Tommy Conway.

Despite the many issues they face, Boro are well capable of having a good shot at the play-offs. They still have talented attacking players like Finn Azaz, Delano Burgzorg and Conway while Hayden Hackney has delivered five goals from midfield.

Boro's final match is away to Coventry City. For that game to matter they have to string a winning run together, starting at home to Oxford United this Saturday.

If Carrick's side do make it into the play-offs they'll definitely have gone the long way round.