´Top-class´ Middlesbrough pass Norwich test, says Carrick

Michael Carrick was impressed with Middlesbrough’s showing against another top opponent in the Championship after they played out an enthralling 3-3 draw with Norwich City.

Borja Sainz had given the Canaries a ninth minute lead before Tommy Conway’s brace and Finn Azaz’s close range effort had Boro in the ascendency at the interval.

Conway then saw his penalty saved by George Long after Jose Cordoba fouled Riley McGree, with that moment proving pivotal in the outcome of the contest.

Sainz doubled his tally two minutes after Boro’s spot-kick with a stunning effort that kissed the underside of the crossbar, before an own-goal by Seny Dieng drew Norwich level.

The Canaries finished the game with a man less after captain Kenny McLean was shown a straight red card late on, but Middlesbrough were unable to find a winner.

Despite letting a two-goal lead slip at Carrow Road, Carrick was pleased with his players’ efforts in a game he felt his side edged.

“I thought we were fantastic for the most part, we showed what a good team we are and played some really good football,” Carrick told BBC Radio Teesside.

“We conceded three goals, the third wasn’t nice at all but the other two, he put them in the top corner from distance and if they’re going to score like that from there, there’s only so much you can do [to stop it].

“I thought we were pretty much the better team throughout, [although] the momentum swung a little bit towards the end.

“That’s two games against really good, top opposition in this league and we’ve been the better team in both games.

“Today was a test in terms of going a goal down but the confidence we showed and togetherness to get through that was top-class.”

The points are shared. pic.twitter.com/QcILLT3ZOb

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) October 27, 2024

For Norwich, meanwhile, the draw ensured they maintained their 11-month unbeaten home record.

A win would have put them fifth in the table, but they remain eighth on the same number of points as ninth-placed Boro, both of them still one point adrift of the top six.

But it was a contest they were perhaps fortunate to claim a point from. The Canaries ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of just 1.1 compared to the visitors’ 3.86.

“When a game is that hectic, with so many situations in it, then it’s hard work for me from minute one to minute 90,” Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk

“We had to be very specific at half-time about what was important for us [to do], very specific with in-game communication to the players because there were so many details to put focus on.

“The moments we have when we are calm on the ball, especially in their half, the spaces we highlighted before the game opened up and we created chances, or at least got into some dangerous positions.”