Middlesbrough picked up a big win against Norwich City on Wednesday night.
A 3-1 win over the Canaries at The Riverside Stadium is just ‘Boro’s second win in their last eight league games.
That has given Michael Carrick‘s side some welcome breathing space above the relegation zone. They are now 12th in the Championship table, nine points clear of the bottom three.
Arguably, the game turned on the somewhat controversial red card shown to Norwich City winger Borja Sainz on the half-hour mark.
However, it seems that is not something that has concerned the Middlesbrough boss too much. Carrick is instead, happier to get those big three points on the board.
Michael Carrick on Borja Sainz sending off
With half an hour on the clock, and Norwich City leading 1-0, the visitors found themselves reduced to ten men.
Sainz went into a 50/50 challenge with Jonny Howson, before appearing to catch the Middlesbrough midfielder with his studs in the the aftermath.
That was enough for referee Bobby Madley, to decide to send the Norwich City man off. After that, the momentum of the game swung, with the hosts dominatng the remainder of the game.
Middlesbrough went on to score their three goals to take three points with little trouble against ten men.
Even during the game, there were suggestions the Sainz red card was harsh, although it seems that is not a huge concern for Carrick.
Speaking about the red card decision after the game, the Middlesbrough boss told the Teeside Gazette:
“I haven’t seen it back, and I haven’t spoken to Jonny either.
“It is what it is. I’ll see it at some point, but I haven’t seen it back yet. Honestly, it didn’t really matter, and the performance didn’t have to be perfect tonight. We just needed to get that feeling back for everyone, and the boys especially. I’m delighted that we managed to do that.”
Next up for Middlesbrough is a trip to Loftus Road to face QPR on Saturday afternoon.
A big win for Middlesbrough
There is no doubt that the red card for Sainz turned the course of this game.
With 11 men on the pitch, Norwich City were dominating, and looked like being the only side likely to win.
Once they were playing against ten men however, this turned into a very comfortable night for Middlesbrough.
Replays have suggested that the red card was a harsh one. Sainz appeared to make very little contact with Howson, and was therefore perhaps unfortunate to see red.
That though, can be of little concern to Middlesbrough. The hosts badly needed to get something from this game one way or another, after a dip in form that was threatening to drag them into the relegation battle.
Sainz’ sending off allowed them to do that, and they do deserve credit for how efficiently they took that opportunity against ten men.
It will be interesting therefore, to see if they are able to build on this against an in-form and resurgent QPR side at the weekend.