MICHAEL Carrick was left disappointed after his Middlesbrough side were forced to settle for a point at bottom club Plymouth.

Boro pegged Argyle back three times with goals from Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte Lath but couldn't force a winner.

Boro remain sixth but are now 13 points behind leaders Sheffield United.

Carrick also felt his side’s tactics were disrupted by key Plymouth striker Michael Obafemi limping off after just nine minutes.

He said: “I was pleased with the boys’ character, commitment and belief to keep pegging them back in the second half.

“We were the better team in the second half and could have scored maybe more goals.

“We did start well and had a good element of control, credit to them they put a lot of bodies forward across our back line and made us defend those spaces.

“The injury to Obafemi maybe knocked our rhythm a little bit, it’s not an excuse, it is just probably how it was.

“I am not frustrated because we didn’t do enough without the ball and defensively to come away feeling any better. The attacking play at times was decent enough and we were scoring goals.

“We had the better of the second half, they didn’t have an awful lot, it was more breakaways and some opportunities. But football throws up funny things at times.

“They (Plymouth) have got good players in moments and individual quality, quick and they carry the ball up the pitch.

“They are a good team, they caused Sheffield United a lot of problems and were unlucky not to get anything out of that game. We knew the challenge we were up against. There were no surprises in that, I am more disappointed how we dealt with it.”

Wayne Rooney remains positive despite Plymouth slipping to the bottom of the Championship table.

He said: “It’s tight down there there’s quite a few teams, at the moment we’re almost in a mini-league. From our point of view we have to keep performing like we have in the last three and we will win games.

“I thought first half we were excellent in and out of possession.

“We wanted to nullify the way Boro wanted to play and we did that.

“I think we were very unlucky we were only 1-0 up at half time. Based on chances alone I was disappointed we didn’t win the game.

“For two of their three goals we were a bit naive.

“Overall a good performance if we can keep those performance levels up – Swansea, Sheffield United and today – we will win games.

“Everything we did this week was based on attack and I am delighted with the goals.

“There were so many good performances out there that’s a real positive.

“We wanted to win. For periods of the game we were on top in the game, and there were periods when they were on top.

“In the dressing room it felt like a defeat but what’s important when you don’t win a game is that you don’t lose.

“It’s a good start to this busy Christmas period, a good point. We are gradually getting players back which is good.

“What didn’t help us was that I had to take off two players through injuries.

“A point is not a bad thing but I thought we deserved all three.”