Michael Carrick’s half-time frustrations that sparked Middlesbrough’s important Stoke City win
Michael Carrick’s half-time frustrations that sparked Middlesbrough’s important Stoke City win
A delighted Michael Carrick praised his Middlesbrough players’ response in the second half after some choice words from the head coach sparked a first win for Boro in six at Stoke City.
Boro ended a five-game losing run as second-half goals from Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway sealed a massive three points to move Boro within four points of the top six again. But it could have quite easily been a familiar frustrating story for Carrick’s side as Bae Junho cancelled out Marcus Forss’ goal on the stroke of half-time.
“I was delighted with how we started the game,” Carrick reflected after. “For 25 minutes, half an hour, we were fantastic. I didn’t like the last bit before half-time which ended up with the goal. The goal didn’t change my feeling because I didn’t like it anyway.
“We stopped doing what we were good at. The goal reset us and perked us up a bit. Credit to the lads again because in that position it would be easy to second guess or question ourselves but we went the other way and were terrific in the second half.”
Stoke’s equaliser on 45 minutes came after a lot of pre-match talk of Boro surrendering too many positive positions in games, and the mental impact that was having on their players. They started so well and looked commanding for much of the first half before losing their grip, and then their lead.
Asked if he said much to the players at half-time, Carrick said with a smile: “Probably enough, yeah. I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like that spell and we caused our own issues. We spoke about that and the boys got together and responded well. I didn’t lose my temper so much, but it was pretty clear how I felt and what we needed to do. The boys responded great.”
The harsh interval words paid off as Boro got a much-needed win. It was a big win for Carrick too, who has found his position under threat after a disastrous spell for Boro since the start of December. But asked if he was relieved with the win, Carrick was keen to turn attention towards the players and supporters.
“Not relieved,” he said. “I’m just really pleased for the lads, to be honest. Getting a win was one thing but it was the way we did it that pleased me more than anything. When you’re on a run like we’ve been on, it’s easy to hide a little bit and take the safe option and survive and hope to win.
“But we really took the ball and expressed ourselves. I said before about doubling down and doing what we’re good at, and I thought we showed that in a massive way tonight. Honestly it’s not me, it’s more for everyone else. You see the players and supporters celebrating at the end and enjoying it.
“It goes back to Bristol the other night and the support we had there. That really matters at this stage and massive, massive credit to the fans again for getting behind the players. That’s what we’re capable of, so to have those moments at the end, it gives that feeling back and it shows that connection. It’s been tested, of course it has, but it’s there and we need to build on it.”
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