Carrick flops fail to hit a home run

HOMESICK Middlesbrough were blown away inside 20 minutes as Bristol City made a mockery of their dreadful recent away form.

Centre-half Rob Dickie delivered a stunning pass for Jason Knight to turn Lukas Engel before rounding Tom Glover to score after 16 minutes.

Seconds later, Matty James scored his first goal since September 19, intercepting Hayden Hackney’s sloppy pass to charge forward and find the net via the upright.

Sub Sammy Silvera reduced the deficit in the 92nd minute – but Michael Carrick’s side are now without a home win in the Championship since the festive period.

Considering they had played two hours of FA Cup football against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night before making the trip to the Riverside, it was impressive stuff by Liam Manning’s side.

He said: “I was pleased with the way we played in both halves but for different reasons.

“In the first, our counterattacking was excellent while in the second half we ...... 1 Silvera 90 .......... 2 Knight 16, James 17 showed great togetherness to defend our box.”

Hackney had wasted a fine early chance but it was the visitors who almost made it three when Sam Bell closed in on goal but could not find a way past Glover.

City keeper Max O’leary twice kept out Sam Greenwood efforts after the break to snuff out any threat of a Boro comeback.

Carrick said: “We gave them a start which made it hard for ourselves.

“We then showed great character the way we responded.

“I thought we did enough to get something.” MIDDLESBROUGH: Glover 6; Ayling 7, Fry 5, van den Berg 5, Engel 5 (Thomas (68) 6); O’brien 5 (Mcgree (68) 7), Barlaser 5; Forss 6, Azaz 6, Hackney 5; Greenwood 6 (Silvera (80) 6) BRISTOL CITY: O’leary 7; Tanner 6, Vyner 6, Dickie 7; Knight 8, Gardnerhickman 6, James 7 (Williams (71) 5), Pring 6 (Roberts (78) 5); Cornick 7 (Mehmeti (46) 6), Wells 6 (Conway (57) 6); Bell 6 (Mccrorie (58) 6) STAR MAN: Jason Knight – Excellent goal sparked an all-action display.

Sam Allison 7