Middlesbrough 2-1 Oxford United – Play-off chasers Boro claim late winner

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:

“It was a good second half. Credit to the boys, it’s not easy when you’re having a slow one.

It was a bit sticky, bit frustrating first half. We spoke about it at half-time, the importance of staying positive.

“It’s easy to get down and frustrated and pick out the problems but I thought there were chances for us to create and we stayed positive and that’s what I liked the most.

“I thought we chased the game well, controlled it, kept counter-pressing, kept the ball in their half and I thought we fully deserved the win in the second half.”

Oxford United manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:

“I think the frustration is we started the game really well. I thought the formation caused them a lot of problems early on.

“We score a goal and have three absolutely huge chances on the back of that.

“We probably need to be more clinical knowing that the forwards Middlesbrough have got, at some point there’s an opportunity with the one bit of quality gets them back in the game.”