Why Michael Carrick won't be too critical of Middlesbrough errors playing out from the back

Michael Carrick refused to apologise for Middlesbrough’s style or berate his players after their defeat to Leeds United, with playing out from the back once again under the microscope.

Boro lost 3-1 at their promotion rivals in a game that could have been very different but for costly Boro errors. Largely outplayed in the first half, Carrick’s side got their way back into the game after a much better start to the second half, and actually looked the side most likely to grab the next goal after their equaliser.

But Boro’s promise in the game dwindled as they got sloppy with possession in their own half. What was becoming an increasingly frustrated Elland Road suddenly were buoyed, with Boro ultimately gifting Leeds their two decisive goals by giving the ball away in their own half, leaving them open to the counter.

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Though costly on this night, and on some other occasions during Carrick’s two-year spell at the Riverside to date, the style is ultimately also the reason why Boro are able to build such positive attacks. They’re the Championship’s third highest scorers currently, and the Boro boss was clear in his defence of the way they play. The application of it was ultimately just off on the night, while their reaction, or lack thereof, to losing the ball was the biggest disappointment.

“It was more just the game went in the second half,” he explained. “The boys played with a lot of confidence and belief and had a lot of control in the game. There's going to be times when you give the ball away.

“There's things you can do on positionals and what you do to manage transitions. But in terms of giving the ball away, the boys did a lot of good things to get control back and that's by getting hold of the ball and showing personality to do that.

“It's very easy to jump on something when you give the ball away and use that as the key mistake, but you have to take it both ways. We want to avoid that, of course, but we were playing with such belief in the second half and we just got caught with two giveaways and it can catch you out. I can't fault the boys for trying to do the right things.”