Michael Carrick says changes were considered ahead of Bristol City’s turnaround, but the Middlesbrough boss felt his side were handling things well before the home side’s first goal.

Boro were leading 1-0 at Ashton Gate thanks to Tommy Conway’s goal and, until the 72nd minute, looked on course to pick up a valuable win. It was backs-against-the-wall stuff from Boro, but largely, they kept the Robins at bay with a combination of saves from Mark Travers and big blocks from defenders keeping their slate clean.

That was until a triple substitution from Liam Manning, which included the introduction of two-goal hero George Earthy and also the influential Yu Hirakawa who helped revitalise Bristol City for their late turnaround. Without making any changes of his own, Carrick watched on as the home side equaliser and then, ten minutes later as he readied his first subs with just eight minutes left, they netted their winner.

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Questioned about his substitute decisions as the pressure stayed on the Boro boss after a fifth straight defeat, he said: “We’re always thinking how we can influence the game. I didn’t think they were really hurting us in the second half and we were defending well as a team and cutting off spaces. Listen, they are the decisions I make or don’t make.

“If it goes to plan and we win the game it’s a good decision, when it doesn’t, people question it, and I understand that. There are loads of reasons why [didn’t make the sub]. We’re constantly thinking, talking, assessing what the options are. There are loads of reasons for each decision we make.

“Making those decisions is all part of the job, it’s the role. I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, it’s my job to try and make the right decisions. I understand I’ll probably get questioned tonight for not doing it and then we lost the game.”

And on the influence of Manning’s subs, he continued: “Their changes did make an impact to a point. I thought we coped pretty well as a team even though they had a lot of territory. The run we’re in, I don’t think we could expect the boys to come here and play free-flowing football and everything looks great. I thought we looked dangerous at times and could have maybe even got another goal.

“The longer the game goes, the more they’re going to push. I thought we were doing well up until the first goal. I know they were having a lot of the ball in and around our box, but I thought we were defending well as a team when we had to. But it’s that same old story really. Late in a game, not finishing a job off.”