MICHAEL Carrick hailed the bravery of his Middlesbrough players for their matchwinning performance at Stoke City - even if they did need some stern words from the head coach at half-time.
Boro brought an end to their five-match losing run with a much-needed 3-1 victory at Stoke City, a deserved success for Carrick's side, who closed the gap on the top six to four points.
Marcus Forss struck a 20th minute opener and Boro were dominant for the most part in the first half, only to switch off in the final stages of the opening period, allowing Bae Junho to equalise on the stroke of half-time.
The way Boro started the first half had delighted Carrick but the sloppy close to the opening period angered the head coach, who made his feelings known at the break.
"I wasn't happy," he said.
"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."
RECOMMENDED READING
Finn Azaz put Boro back in front seven minutes after the restart before Tommy Conway sealed the points 17 minutes from time.
The victory brought to an end Carrick's worse run as Boro boss and the head coach joined his players in celebrating in front of the away end at full-time.
"I'm not relieved, I'm just really pleased for the lads, to be honest," said Carrick.
"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.
"I was delighted with how we started the game. 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."
Carrick received the backing of chairman Steve Gibson last week but the external pressure would have further increased on the head coach had Boro lost again at Stoke.
But he insisted there was no feeling of a weight lifted off his shoulders.
"Honestly it's not me, it's more for everyone else," he said.
"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."
