GAFFER HAS IT TAPED
Mcnair switch has paid off
MIDDLESBROUGH 3
Akpom 32, 59, Mcnair 70
BLACKPOOL 0
PADDY MCNAIR insisted patience has paid off for him under Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough regime.
Boro appointed Carrick as Chris Wilder’s successor in October after protracted negotiations.
The Teessiders were just outside the relegation places when they lost 2-1 at Preston in Carrick’s first game in charge. Now they are third and favourites to nail down a play-off spot.
Mcnair and Carrick (above) were team-mates at Manchester United but the Northern Ireland international knows there is no old pals’ act.
Carrick sees Mcnair’s best position as centreback but Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan have been the head coach’s preferred pairing at the heart of defence.
Mcnair, in fact, did not play a single competitive minute for Carrick until the turn of the year.
But Fry’s red card in the derby defeat at Sunderland a fortnight ago opened the door for him.
And despite Fry’s availability after suspension, Mcnair kept his place for the visit of Mick Mccarthy’s Blackpool and scored Boro’s third goal as they made it five straight home league wins.
Mcnair said: “The gaffer has been brilliant since he came in. I haven’t played as much as I’d like, so I’ve had to wait for my chance.
“I took my chance and it’s nice to get another three points and a goal.
“You just have to be patient. Dael and Darragh were playing brilliantly, we were winning games.
“The main thing is the team, no matter who is playing.
“I’ve spoken to the gaffer a lot but when the team is winning there’s nothing to say, really.
“I just worked hard in training. I knew my chance would come.
“I played with the gaffer for a couple of years. I could always see he’d go on to manage.”
Mcnair, who had stitches in a facial wound at half-time, made the game safe after forward Chuba Akpom’s superb double hoisted his haul for the season to 17 league and cup goals. Blackpool, with Mick Mccarthy in his first Championship game in charge, remain second bottom.
But they have now gone 11 league matches without a win.
The former Republic of Ireland boss warned the Tangerines’ next two matches – both at Bloomfield Road against fellow strugglers – are potentially crucial.
He said: “Tuesday is a huge game. Huddersfield and then Rotherham could both be season-defining games.
“The fans have been fabulous. They’ve given me such a great welcome. They are kind of depending on me and Terry Connor to help keep them up and we’ll do our best – but we all know it’s a tough old gig.”