Boro are ‘effective and efficient’ to keep alive their play-off ambitions
MICHAEL Carrick praised his Middlesbrough players for digging deep and finding a way to win after beating Swansea City 2-0 at the Riverside.
Carrick’s Boro are now unbeaten in their last seven matches and are just six points off the Championship play-off places ahead of Wednesday’s crucial trip to Hull City.
Emmanuel Latte Lath came up with two moments of quality to secure Boro’s second home win in a week, with the Ivorian striking either side of half-time to take his tally for the season to 10 in the league and 12 in all competitions.
Latte Lath opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time then wrapped up the points 11 minutes from time with a clinical right-footed finish.
Carrick said: “I’m delighted to be honest. It’s the type of game that can pass you by if you don’t do the right things. I thought the boys were disciplined and effective and efficient in the work we wanted to do.
“We knew they’re good in taking the ball in possession. We were patient and disciplined, defended the box well and defended in our half well.”
On Latte Lath, Carrick said: “Manu is coming into form. He’s had a big impact, he’s had a good return and hopefully there’s a few more in him.”
Boro’s rivals for the play-off places – Norwich, Hull and Coventry – all won on Saturday but Carrick said his players just need to concentrate on themselves.
He said: “We’re coming from behind. We’ve put a bit of a run together, we just have to try and extend that as long as we can.
“Wednesday is a new challenge and will have a bit of a say on what the picture looks like after that. We just have to keep chipping away and see how we end up.” Middlesbrough: Dieng, Ayling, Howson, Clarke, Thomas, Barlaser, O'Brien, Isaiah Jones (Finch 82), Azaz (Dijksteel 82), Greenwood (Gilbert 87), Latte Lath (Silvera 82). Unused substitutes: van den Berg, Hackney, Glover, Engel, McCabe.
Swansea: Rushworth, Key, Darling, WoodGordon, Tymon (Abdulai 29), Fulton (Walsh 64), Grimes, Ronald (Govea 78), Lowe, Paterson (Cooper 65), Yates (Cullen 65). Unused substitutes: Fisher, Cabango, Patino, Humphreys.
Referee: R Welch (Washington).