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."

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Doak could be back in full training for Middlesbrough next week according to manager Michael Carrick.

The Boro boss ruled out any involvement for Doak, or for midfielder Riley McGree, for Saturday's home Championship game with Derby County, but indicated that the Liverpool loanee, who has missed the last four games through injury, is nearing a return.

Boro desperately need a spark to arrest a slide which has seen them lose six of their last seven Championship games to fall from fifth to 13th and lie seven points off the play-off places, and Doak's absence has been one factor in that slump.

Carrick confirmed that Ryan Giles is fit for Tuesday night's trip to Stoke but said Doak and McGree would take longer.

"Ben will be in and around it at some point, maybe next week without putting too much of a deadline on it," he added.

"Everyone's waiting to see when he's fit, I get that, but he's not too far away."

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick says the fact that his Middlesbrough team have gone ahead in 19 games this season, but only gone on to win 11 of them, is still a positive.

The Boro boss, preparing for Tuesday's trip to Stoke City, preferred the 'glass half-full' view when presented with that stat in an interview with BBC Radio Tees, after they let a lead slip to lose at Bristol City on Friday.

"There are two sides to that," he said. "Having that go in our favour is a real positive that we can't ignore, and seeing out games, managing games is something we need to get better at.

"That shows we can do it. We can get ourselves in really good positions in games, which is very difficult to do, and we've done it regularly. But how we finish games is hugely important and decides the result.

"There's a big balance there. It feels like there are two extremes, but we're in the middle with the big positive thought of what we can do, and we're going to have to do more of it."

If that is to start in the Potteries, Boro need to end a dismal run of just one away win in the last eight, but Carrick says morale remains high in the camp.

"The group is as solid as ever and it gives you a really good feeling, seeing that and feeling that. But results are the end game, and we need to make the difference in that direction," he added.

Under-fire Boro boss Michael Carrick takes his Middlesbrough side to Stoke on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) seeking to avoid a sixth straight Championship defeat.

Boro have tumbled down the table to lie 13th and head to a Potters side unbeaten in four home games since Boxing Day, conceding just once in that spell.

Mark Robins' side are 19th, five points above the relegation zone, but could close to within six points of Middlesbrough with a victory.

• Stoke City have lost just two of their past 20 home league games against Middlesbrough (W11 D7), a 2-1 loss in February 1998 and a 2-0 defeat in June 2020.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in September, Middlesbrough are looking to record a first league double over Stoke City since the 2019-20 season.

• Stoke are unbeaten in four home league games (W2 D2) and are looking to pick up back-to-back home wins for the first time in the Championship this season.

• Middlesbrough have won seven of their past nine Championship matches played on a Tuesday (L2), although did lose their last away game in midweek 3-1 at Leeds in December.

• In his managerial career, Stoke manager Mark Robins has won six and lost just one of his eight previous home league games against Middlesbrough (D1), winning his past three in succession with Coventry from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

Image source, PA Media

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."

Image source, Rex Features

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.

Bristol City welcome Middlesbrough to Ashton Gate on Friday night (19:45 GMT) for a clash between two sides hoping to make the Championship play-offs.

The Robins are eighth, two points off the top six, but have won just two of their past seven games (D3 L2).

A run of four straight defeats for Boro and only two wins from their previous 11 matches (D4 L5) has seen them slip to 11th, four points behind West Bromwich Albion in sixth.

• Bristol City have won each of their past three league games against Middlesbrough, last enjoying a longer winning run against Boro between 2012 and 2017 (five wins).

• Middlesbrough have failed to win any of their past three away league games against Bristol City (D1 L2), conceding 2+ goals in each. Boro last failed to win on more visits to Ashton Gate between 1977 and 1993 (seven games).

• Bristol City have won five of their past six home league games (L1), keeping four clean sheets during that time.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their past three away league games and will be looking to avoid losing four in succession for the first time since September 2023 (a run of five).

• Across Middlesbrough's past five Championship games, they've scored with four of their 23 shots from outside the box (17%) but only scored with two of their 42 shots from inside the box (5%).

Image source, Rex Features

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."

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.