Carrick Prepares Boro for Clash with Oxford United After Positive Run

Middlesbrough FC's head coach Michael Carrick expresses optimism ahead of the match against Oxford United, highlighting the team's recent form and the impact of goal-scoring on player confidence.

Middlesbrough FC’s head coach, Michael Carrick, is optimistic as his team prepares for today’s encounter with Oxford United, following an encouraging run of form.

Boro have demonstrated their attacking capabilities with consecutive victories before the international break, netting an impressive nine goals against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town.

These victories have not only lifted the squad’s morale but also propelled Middlesbrough to seventh in the Championship, marking their highest position of the season so far. This upward momentum is particularly significant for Carrick’s side, who had encountered difficulties earlier in the campaign.

As Middlesbrough approache the match at the Kassam Stadium, Carrick hopes to sustain this positive trend. However, he is mindful of the disruption that the international break can cause, particularly given that several players were away on international duty. This could potentially impact the cohesion that was so evident during their recent performances.

Reflecting on this, Carrick stated, “In terms of the goals, I can totally understand the feeling that things had changed dramatically in the final two games before the break. But honestly, not a lot changed in terms of the performance. It was there, just the goals weren’t going in.”

“That gives us that extra bit of confidence and extra bit of spark and energy. The boys will definitely benefit from that.”

“The boys have been scoring goals and sharing the load amongst them as well,” Carrick remarked, underscoring the unity within the team. “It’s really encouraging. There are a number of games coming up and the boys understand that we have to be successful together,” he added.

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Despite encountering inconsistency earlier in the season, Carrick's perspective remains focused on the overall performance of the team. He has remained composed during challenging times, believing that this consistency has positively influenced the players.