Despite the first win of the season still proving elusive, Michael Carrick said he was pleased by a lot of what he has seen as his side drew 1-1 with Yorkshire outfit Huddersfield Town.
It was a much improved showing by his group and, on another day, they could have come away with three points. But the Boro boss was proud of the application and effort of a team that had three league debutants in right-back Rav van den Berg, left-back Lukas Engel and striker Emmanuel Latte Lath.
In an interview on the club’s website, Carrick said, “I thought we had enough chances, definitely to win the game, probably quite comfortably in the end, but if you don’t take them, that is where it is.
“I’m sure they’ll come, it’s just one of those things, it’s not quite dropping for us at the minute and not going our way, but we can’t cry about it.”
The 42-year-old ex-Manchester United coach also felt that the way that Huddersfield set up made it difficult for his side.
“It is a tough game; the way they play, you know their style of play going man-for-man, putting bodies forward, putting it in the box a lot, it is tough to play against, so credit to them.”
Boro midfielder was terrific
Despite the difficult nature of the opponents, and the wiley operator Neil Warnock in the opposing dug-out, Carrick was effusive in his praise of the way Boro played and also reserved special commendation for certain players who showed their worth, none more so than young starlet Hayden Hackney. “I’m proud of the boys, we are disappointed not to win but loads to work on.
“I thought Sami (Silvera) was fantastic, Hayden in midfield was really good and Rav playing right-back for the third time in his life never mind his career, because he’s only 19, and Lukas making his debut and Manny making his debut. So, there was a lot to be pleased about.”
Elaborating on the quality shown by Hackney, he continued, “Yeah, I thought he was terrific again, ‘H’, I thought he played really well and again not an easy game when you literally can’t shake off your marker because they go man-for-man.”
Local lad Hackney has been challenged by his head coach to add more goals to his game and the midfielder seems to have taken the advice on board. A proud Micahel Carrick added, “He took the ball so well and was very clever with it and then obviously the goal was a terrific strike, he has got that in him to get forward that little bit more, to create and score goals, so that will get him up and running.”
Middlesbrough will hope to take their renewed confidence into their next league game away to West Bromich Albion.