by Michael Carrick insisted that Middlesbrough’s promotion Push stays alive, provided that his team defeated Plymouth Argyle on Good Friday.
Boro’s hopes of pushing themselves into the play-off places suffered a big blow when they fell 1-0 defeat at Millwall at the weekend.
The loss in the cave had Michael Carrick’s team slid to eighth place on the table, and while they stay within two points of the top six, the gap rises to four when Coventry City will win their game in Hull City tonight.
Whatever happens on Humberside, with four remaining games, Boro has to take all three points on the Riverside on Friday if they are against a Plymouth team that gave their hope to avoid relegation on Saturday when they came from behind to beat the doctorate to rejuvenate Sheffield United.
Boro goes to Sheffield on Wednesday on Easter Monday, but for the time being, Carrick’s only focus is on returning to prizes against Plymouth. If his side can do that, he is confident that your play-off boost is switched on again.
“At that time of the season, everything can literally happen,” said the Boro boss. “It can twist so quickly, so it’s still everything.
“Everything is still to be played, but winning games is in the end and we have to do it quickly. If we can do it, we still have a chance. But we have to win games.”
Carrick’s team could not seriously threaten the Millwall goal at the weekend, with Lukas Jensen really only put into practice in added time when he saved Marcus Forss.
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A significant improvement is required on Friday, with something other than a victory realistically the end of the club’s promotional hopes.
“We have to bounce back,” admitted Carrick. “There will definitely be a reaction from the boys. We have to make sure that it is sufficient to win the game on Friday.
“It is in this phase in which every game and the result are now important. Everyone can turn quickly, but we have to win again quickly.
“We are bitterly disappointed (with the Millwall defeat) -more than disappointed -because at this level of the season we want to come into these games and take points.
“We all understand how important it is. The only way is now to continue for Friday. The season is still on. We have to win enough games and get enough points to give each other a chance. We still have a chance, we are still in and around them.”
Last season Boro ended outside of the Play-off places when they could not win three games in a row before ending the campaign with two wins against Cardiff and Watford.
Carrick hopes to avoid repeating, even if he agrees that there will probably be many twists and curves in the next three weeks.
“We all know how quickly the championship can change,” he said. “We were all enough nearby. It happens at both ends of the table. It is what it is. That offers us belief, hope and encouragement.
“Everything can happen. But it is up to us. We have to do points and hope that the results will go our way elsewhere. We will see. It is important that we quickly bounce back and are alive on Friday and are ready for this challenge.”
