Michael Carrick says Middlesbrough’s players need the backing of supporters now more than ever, as he insisted he understood frustrations.
Boro lost a fourth consecutive game on Saturday as Moussa Sissoko’s header condemned them to defeat. There were huge boos at the final whistle as Boro supporters made their discontent known as Carrick’s side dropped to 11th in the Championship.
But owner Steve Gibson is desperate to back Carrick and he will remain in charge, with Teesside Live told there are ‘no plans for change’. With that uncertainty removed, the Boro head coach is pleading with supporters to continue showing their support to the players – one thing they did throughout the majority of Saturday’s defeat prior to the full-time whistle.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Watford, Carrick said of supporter frustrations: “I understand [the boos]. But they got behind the boys, particularly at the start of the second half. I understand it’s a difficult situation – a tough situation for all of us. Again, there is no way of sugarcoating it.
“It’s tough and we’ve all got our own responsibilities. I get the disappointment of fans, totally understand it. I thought their support of the boys, particularly the second half, was great. These moments are when the boys need that support the most.
“That was when I felt for the boys the most. You could see them really trying and it just wasn’t happening for us. The supporters, like they did, support the boys even more, and it can make a real difference.”
Boro now have two games on the road as Carrick looks to arrest Boro’s slump and guide his side back to winning ways. While that potentially saves from what might have been toxic atmospheres at the Riverside if the narrative failed to change, Boro will travel in numbers to both Bristol City and Stoke City in the next seven days, with the 43-year-old well aware of how much he needs a result.
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