Michael Carrick maintains Boro’s fate is in their “own hands”

The latest North East sport headlines, from Daniel Wales.

Transcript

00:01Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has made clear that Middlesbrough's play-off chances are still in their own hands,

00:08despite Borough sitting just outside of the play-offs following their 2-1 defeat away at Hillsborough against Sheffield United.

00:15Borough were leading in that game but fell behind towards the end, having already missed a penalty to go 2-0 ahead.

00:22Michael Carrick, though, is remaining confident about Borough's chances.

00:26Yeah, we started well at Millwall. I thought we were really good first off at Millwall.

00:30Very similar. Didn't score, but I thought we were really good first off at Millwall.

00:33Started the game well again the other day and we started today again.

00:38It's managing the game from there on in, really.

00:41We haven't done that well enough and paid the price for it.

00:46We'll have to shake this one off.

00:49I think we've got to learn from them things about managing games and how to control games in certain ways

00:54when you're on top or when it's starting to get away from you and pulling it back towards that.

01:00We've definitely got to learn that and speak about that and do something about that.

01:04But two games, you know, two games, as I said, it's all on.

01:08Two massive games, two wins and it's in our own hands.

01:12And finally, Sunderland attacking midfielder Chris Rigg has said that he wants the fans onside

01:18as they prepare to play in their playoff games at the end of the championship season.

01:23I think we started really well, to be honest.

01:26I think the young boys are really good.

01:28I think we've just got that.

01:30We like that final touch and obviously they got it.

01:34It's not just a token gesture.

01:35The lads who deserve to start, like Milan, Tommy and Jonesy.

01:41They've been, and Joe, sorry, they've been unbelievable in training.

01:44So it's not just a gesture.

01:46And like you said, we need everybody going into the playoffs.

01:48I think we've just got to take every opportunity as it comes.

01:51Obviously, it's another defeat, which isn't the best.

01:56But hopefully we can turn a switch and get into the playoffs firing and ready to go.

02:04We need the fans to follow us like they normally do.

02:09And hopefully we can, like I said, take it into the playoffs

02:11and show them how good we really are.