‘We couldn’t capitalise’ – Boro boss Carrick reflects on Millwall defeat as Championship play-off race closes up
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was left disappointed after his side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Millwall at The Den on Saturday afternoon.
The Teesside club have now lost back-to-back games and seen their play-off aspirations dented. Carrick’s side certainly had the better of the contest in the opening 45 minutes, but struggled to create clear-cut chances and force home keeper Lukas Jensen into a meaningful save until second-half stoppage time.
That came back to bite Boro as, in the 65th minute, they fell behind.
Two Millwall substitutes combined to fire the South Londoners in front. Femi Azeez’s cross deflected off a Boro defender, and the ball fell kindly to Camiel Neghli, who controlled the ball and finished smartly past Mark Travers.
That proved to be the only goal of the game – a defeat that could prove costly for Carrick’s men.
“I think they had the spell for about 20 minutes after half-time, said the Middlesbrough boss. “They got the momentum, they got us on the back foot, credit to them, they made us defend and made the most of the time that they were on top.
“I thought in the first half, we were really good, coming here and controlling things and I thought we caused them a lot of problems, playing through the pitch, we just didn’t have that final action or decision to make that chance. We had enough opportunities where we created good space but couldn’t make the most of it.”
Millwall head coach Alex Neil made a tactical switch at half-time, taking off Luke Cundle for Macauley Langstaff. That helped the Lions have more of a presence in the final third.
Carrick said: “That spell after half-time, they made the most of it, took the chance that they got and that was the game, we had that chance with Marcus Forss at the end which was a great save but we didn’t have the energy or that bit of something to open them up enough.
“The boys got themselves in really good positions, it had us thinking there is a big chance coming, but it never really came. I thought we did really well, did some really good things, did what we set out to do, controlling the game and defusing the atmosphere, attacking the spaces, but we couldn’t capitalise on it.”
Defeat in South London sees Millwall draw level on points with Boro, with both teams now on 60 points, two behind sixth-placed Coventry, who travel to Hull on Monday night.
Carrick insists his side are still firmly in the mix for top six finish.
“It’s a setback of course it is but I think it’s about bouncing back as quick as we can,” said Carrick.
“Friday is really important for us, this time of the season anything can happen it can twist so quickly, it’s still all on, it’s all still to play for but winning games is what matters. We have to do that, if we do then we give ourselves a chance.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD