EFLWEEKEND ROUND-UP
MIDDLESBROUGH’S remarkable revival under Michael Carrick continued on Saturday, with the former Manchester United midfielder taking them from 22nd in the Championship to third in just three months.
Their 2-0 victory against WATFORD saw Carrick’s side leapfrog the Hornets through first-half goals from Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss.
Since taking over on October 24, Carrick’s league record reads won nine, drawn one, lost three — the best of any Middlesbrough manager in history after their first 13 games.
After Saturday’s victory, Carrick said: ‘We played really good football, stuck to the plan, stuck to the organisation, worked hard for each other and it was a real good team performance. In and out of possession, there were some really good things that we’ve got to take forward.’ Boro have now completed the signing of Rotherham midfielder Daniel Barlaser — who watched the Watford win from the director’s box — and Carrick will be desperate to keep hold of Chuba Akpom for the rest of the season, with the 14-goal Championship top scorer drawing interest from Crystal Palace, Everton and Southampton this month. Elsewhere, Scotland have sent their best wishes to Lyndon Dykes after the QPR striker was admitted to hospital.
The 27-year-old was struggling with illness during his most recent QPR appearance on January 21. The Championship club, who lost 3-0 at Hull on Saturday, wrote on Twitter: ‘Stay strong Lyndon. The club are closely monitoring Lyndon after he was admitted to hospital this week. We wish our No 9 a quick and safe recovery.’ The Scottish national team Twitter account posted: ‘Wishing you a safe recovery, Lyndon.’ Dykes went off in the 58th minute of QPR’s 1-1 draw with Swansea the previous weekend. Manager Neil Critchley said after the game: ‘Lyndon was sick at half-time. He wanted to continue but was obviously struggling. We didn’t want to bring him off but we had to.’
The Australian-born former Livingston striker has scored eight goals in 26 internationals for Scotland.
In League One, BRISTOL ROVERS boss Joey Barton lamented their embarrassing 5-1 defeat at MORECAMBE, which he described as a rude awakening for his players.
Morecambe went ahead through Dan Crowley before four second-half goals completed the rout and dealt Barton’s men a blow in their hunt for the League One play-off places. ‘That’s not acceptable and all you can do is apologise to the fans — it was embarrassing actually,’ fumed Barton.
‘If anyone was in any doubt, today has been another rude awakening about the standard of where our group is at and if we don’t improve it, we will no longer be able to keep pace with the teams that are chasing promotion.’
In League Two, NORTHAMPTON TOWN striker Kieron Bowie will be on the sidelines for at least two months after picking up an injury in training.
The 20-year-old, who has scored four goals since arriving on loan from Fulham last summer, has not featured since the 2-0 defeat by Stockport County on January 14.
‘He was injured in training, no one really near him, but he won’t be back within eight weeks,’ revealed Northampton manager Jon Brady, whose side’s 2-0 victory against keeps them third in the table.