For the second time in four days Middlesbrough gave supporters an exciting glimpse of what the future could look like under Michael Carrick. This time, they got the victory their performance deserved.

Carrick said his players had a “spring in their step” after the impressive display against Bristol City at the weekend. Well if that was the case they’ll have bounced back to Teesside last night, Boro battering Blackpool 3-0 to take their unbeaten stretch to three games.

This was every bit as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, Boro on top from start to finish. They could – should – have scored more.

But three goals will do for Carrick, Isaiah Jones, Marcus Forss and Chuba Akpom – who else – on the scoresheet. Akpom was outstanding all night, creating the first goal out of nothing and scoring the third, taking his tally to four in four games and five in six. No wonder he was serenaded by the away fans when he was replaced on 73 minutes.

By that stage the points were secure. In truth, though, the game looked to be won from the minute Jones broke the deadlock quarter of an hour in. Jones’ display was one of many positives, the young winger looking like the player of last year: fearless and direct all night.

The victory lifted Boro four points clear of the relegation zone and just four shy of the top 10.

Carrick named the same starting XI for the third successive game and after this display it’ll be no surprise to see him go with the same again at Norwich on Saturday.

The only change to the 18 at Bloomfield Road was the inclusion of teenage Pharrell Willis on the bench, the first time the 19-year-old winger has been named in a matchday squad.

How Michael Appleton will have wished he’d been blessed with a settled side. Illness in the camp has forced him to shuffle his pack recently, three changes made for the visit of Boro, the home boss admitting he’d feared fatigue.

Little surprise, then, that Boro set the tempo in the early exchanges, controlling and dominating the play with more than 70% of possession in the opening quarter of an hour, making the hosts chase.

Boro were patient in their build-up and with their first real chance of the evening opened the scoring, a goal created by in-form Akpom. He picked up the ball just inside the Blackpool half with his back to goal, turned, raised his head and picked out Marcus Forss in the box with a sublime cross. Forss peeled off at the back post and showed fine awareness to nod it down into the path of the onrushing Jones, who did the rest.

Akpom played with such confidence, always on the want for the ball and again shining in this new deeper role.

Appleton called on the home fans to play their part and help his injury and illness-ravaged side, but there was little for the Bloomfield Road regulars to cheer. Forss almost doubled Boro’s lead shortly after the opener, his effort from outside the box flashing just wide of the post.

Other than a Sonny Carey shot that was well blocked in the box, the hosts created nothing and were made to focus on preventing a second goal rather than scoring an equaliser. Boro twice came close doubling their advantage 10 minutes shy of half-time, both chances coming from Giles deliveries. First a free-kick from the right was turned agonisingly wide by Akpom then Jones did the same from a cross from the opposite flank.

Next it was Lenihan’s chance to go close, flashing a header just wide. By the time of the half-time whistle, Boro had managed 12 attempts, the only concern for Carrick the fact the lead was only a single goal.

But within just three minutes of the restart, Boro had breathing space with a second from the penalty spot. The spot-kick was won and converted by Forss, the striker pouncing on indecision in the home defence, beating Maxwell to the ball and going down in the box. The home keeper was furious with the decision but Forss lifted himself off the deck to fire home the penalty.

It was attack vs defence and the third goal came on 65 minutes, Akpom turning in Giles’ cross. Deliveries from the Wolves loanee caused the home side problems all night.

Blackpool had a couple of moments, coming closest when Jerry Yates flashed just wide of the far post with 10 minutes to play. But the full-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for the home side.

Carrick introduced Willis, the young winger replacing Jones for the final stages, a debut that rounded off a fine night for Boro.