Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick hails 'brilliance' of Chuba Akpom after win over Blackpool

MICHAEL CARRICK believes Chuba Akpom’s brilliance got Middlesbrough firing at the Riverside to keep their promotion push on track by beating struggling Blackpool 3-0.
By Alan Round, PA
Published 5th Feb 2023, 12:03 GMT
Updated 5th Feb 2023, 12:04 GMT

It was an impressive afternoon for the Championship’s leading scorer, with the former Arsenal striker putting Boro on course for another win under Carrick to keep hold of third spot and move to within 10 points of second-placed Sheffield United.

Akpom took his season tally to 17 goals, 16 in the league, with a goal in each half before Paddy McNair added a third with a back-post finish with 20 minutes remaining.

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But it was Akpom’s eye for a goal that got Middlesbrough on course for the three points. His excellent right-footed finish, which curled inside the far post in the 32nd minute, was followed by his second just before the hour when he pounced on Riley McGree’s pass.

BRILLIANT: Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PA.BRILLIANT: Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PA.
BRILLIANT: Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PA.

The 27-year-old sits top of the division’s scoring charts and Carrick wants him to keep going after watching a fifth home league win in a row.

Boro boss Carrick said: “It was a terrific goal from Chuba, a great individual goal and just what is needed sometimes in a game like that because it can nudge you ahead.

“I liked the second goal, the team goal, from goalkeeper Zack Steffen all the way through the pitch and then to finish it off with a great combination of Chuba and Riley (McGree).

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“It is important (to win five in a row at home), when you have the support we have behind us. The boys are playing with confidence, the atmosphere that creates is special.

NEW FACE: Middlesbrough’s Daniel Barlaser (centre) in action against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PANEW FACE: Middlesbrough’s Daniel Barlaser (centre) in action against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PA
NEW FACE: Middlesbrough’s Daniel Barlaser (centre) in action against Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium Picture: Will Matthews/PA

“We have to build on that as the season goes. It might not always go to plan, but we know the support is there for us. It is powerful there for the players to feel that energy in the stadium.

“I’m happy. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, the situation they are in, with a new manager, a good manager, we knew they’d be stubborn and hard to beat, good on the break.

“I liked the application, attitude, focus and the concentration levels. It’s easy to get impatient and lose sense of what we are trying to do in a game like that, but I thought the boys were terrific, looked dangerous and caused problems.”

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Middlesbrough: Steffen, Smith, McNair, Lenihan, Giles (Bola 83), Howson (Mowatt 84), Hackney (Barlaser 63), Forss (Jones 76), Akpom, McGree, Archer. Unused substitutes: Fry, Roberts, Crooks.Blackpool: Maxwell, Lyons, Connolly, Goode, Nelson, Hamilton, Bowler (Rogers 71), Trybull (Madine 71), Patino (Dougall 60), Lavery (Carey 60), Yates (Poveda-Ocampo 81).Unused substitutes: Grimshaw, Thorniley.

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).

Related topics:Chuba AkpomMiddlesbroughBlackpoolArsenal