Michael Carrick feels his Middlesbrough side are peaking at the ideal time after their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday took them to within six points of the Championship바카라s play-off places. (More Football News)
The Teessiders바카라 season looked to effectively be over when they dropped to 14th after last month바카라s 2-0 defeat at Stoke, but they have embarked on a six-game unbeaten run that has reignited their promotion hopes.
They have closed to within six points of sixth-placed Norwich thanks to a comfortable victory over the Owls, which was achieved through a Michael Ihiekwe own goal and a deflected second-half strike from Isaiah Jones.
Carrick said: 바카라There comes a point towards the end of the season where we are where we are, and you understand that and grasp it. You can then try to use that as a motivation.
바카라Five or six games ago, it was a case of getting back to basics and being solid and hard to beat. It was about trying to win games again, and we바카라ve done that.
바카라Southampton (a 1-1 draw on Good Friday) was a move in the right direction in terms of the football we want to play, and then today we바카라ve added to that again.
바카라I thought we looked a lot like the team we want to look like today, and I was pleased with that.
바카라Of course, we바카라ve got to keep trying to win games and see where that takes us, but the end of the season is getting closer now and while there바카라ll be swings week to week, I think you바카라ve got to embrace that at this stage.바카라
Carrick was especially pleased with his side바카라s defensive display despite the absence of a host of senior players that resulted in Jonny Howson having to play centre-back for the second game in a row.
Boro have conceded just one goal in their last five matches, with their improved defensive performances having played a major role in their unbeaten run.
Carrick said: 바카라I think we바카라ve defended well as a team and pressed well. Different scenarios, different little tweaks of personnel, but I keep talking about the wavelengths and connections.
바카라Jonny has just shown his experience and his class. He바카라s stepped in and understood it straight away.
바카라I know he바카라s played there a few times, but I think he바카라s quite enjoyed that bit of a fresh challenge. You could see that, and I thought he was terrific again.바카라
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl pulled no punches as he bemoaned his side바카라s lacklustre showing as they slipped to 23rd in the table with just six more games to play.
바카라The supporters are high level, Premier League level, but from us, there was nothing,바카라 Rohl said.
바카라I have showed my players one clip immediately after the game, and that clip showed everything that was wrong. If you lose the ball, then you have to work. If you play forward, then you have to push out. If the opponent moves right, you have to move right, but we were not moving right.
바카라We can speak about the shape, the players, everything, but it was simply not good enough. It was a big, big disappointment.
