MICHAEL Carrick said there were "loads of reasons" why he didn't make a Middlesbrough substitute until his side were 2-1 down against Bristol City - despite the impact of Liam Manning's changes 20 minutes earlier.

Carrick didn't explain what those reasons were, but said: "We're constantly thinking, talking and assessing what the options are".

Boro led 1-0 at Ashton Gate on Friday night after Tommy Conway's first half goal, but Manning's triple-change just after the hour mark transformed the game.

Yū Hirakawa made a major impact from the bench, as did George Earthy, who equalised in the 72nd minute and scored Bristol City's winner 10 minutes later.

Carrick then made his first change, introducing Finn Azaz with eight minutes to play.

RECOMMENDED READING

• Michael Carrick fumes at 'totally wrong decision' after Middlesbrough lose again

• Middlesbrough's best player was let down in Bristol City defeat

• What Bristol City's boss did added to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough woes

Asked why he didn't make any substitutions earlier, 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]. 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.”

On Manning's game-changing substitutions, Carrick said: “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."