Michael Carrick insisted he wouldn’t get carried away with Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win away to Blackburn Rovers, a consequence that moved them into the Championship’s high six.
Two targets within the opening 10 minutes for Boro did the harm, with Rovers boss Valerien Ismael nonetheless awaiting his first victory since taking on from John Eustace.
Tommy Conway wanted simply two minutes to place the guests forward, neatly flicking Kelechi Iheanacho’s cross over Joe Rankin-Costello earlier than ending previous Aynsley Pears.
Iheanacho was concerned once more for Boro’s second of the sport, setting Samuel Iling-Junior up on the sting of the field, together with his deflected strike wrongfooting the Blackburn keeper.
Boro’s victory lifted them to fifth within the standings, although Coventry Metropolis, West Bromwich Albion and Bristol Metropolis are all in motion on Saturday and will climb above them.
Middlesbrough final competed within the Premier League in 2016-17, with an actual risk of returning to the highest flight this season after a string of spectacular outcomes.
Carrick, nevertheless, was fast to mood these lofty expectations, saying he’ll proceed to take Boro’s remaining league fixtures one sport at a time.
“Let’s not get too carried away, there’s a lot to go. I’ve seen it earlier than. I’m sufficiently old and ugly sufficient to know what the top of this season brings,” Carrick stated.
“Tonight was a great win for us and we’ve received one other large sport on Tuesday night time.
“We’ll take every sport because it comes and we’re in a great place.”
FRIDAY NIGHT WINNERS! pic.twitter.com/IrocktiMTd
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 4, 2025
For Blackburn, in the meantime, their droop down the desk continued, with the Rovers supporters making their emotions identified to the membership’s hierarchy all through the sport.
The opening levels proved to be robust viewing for Blackburn chief govt Steve Waggott, chief working officer Suhail Pasha and head of soccer operations Rudy Gestede.
The trio have been sat within the stands regardless of fan teams urging them to not attend the rest of Rovers’ residence video games this season.
Blackburn have now misplaced 5 video games in a row for the primary time since February 2021 beneath Tony Mowbray, although Ismael believes that luck is just not on their facet.
“We need to begin the sport effectively and it places you in a tough scenario [conceding after 74 seconds]. We will keep away from the purpose. We misplaced two vital duels,” Ismael stated.
“The second purpose reveals the scenario on the minute, deflecting into our personal purpose.
“I feel on the finish of the primary half and utterly within the second half is how we wished to begin the sport with extra perception, want, deal with ourselves.
“The efficiency was there, you simply want to remain at 0-0 for so long as doable and sooner or later to make an opportunity.
“We had a great probability within the second half to attain however we don’t have the luck on the minute.
“The primary mistake you make or the opponent’s first shot goes within the purpose, so it’s tough.”