Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick determined to stay on as boss

Boro’s return of 64 points and a finish of 10th is the lowest under Carrick having been fourth and eighth respectively, with 75 and 69 points respectively.

After a strong November, Middlesbrough were sitting fifth with a play-off finish the least fans were expecting from a team that was scoring lots of goals.

But last season’s top scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath was sold to MLS side Atlanta United in January, while teenager Ben Doak, who had been so impressive on loan from Liverpool, did not play again following a thigh injury in January.

Six players – including Morgan Whittaker and Kelechi Iheanacho – were brought in during the transfer window, but that was in the middle of a run of five straight losses.

They recovered with 16 points from seven games, but they have finished with four losses out of their final six matches to fall short. Boro only managed three goals in those last six matches.

Whittaker has not scored since arriving from Plymouth Argyle while former Leicester City striker Iheanacho only scored once, having joined on loan from La Liga side Sevilla.

In losing to Coventry at the CBS Arena, Whittaker hit the post, Finn Azaz had four efforts saved by home goalkeeper Ben Wilson and Delano Burgzorg shot over with another presentable chance.