Another Middlesbrough win, another Chuba Akpom goal, another couple of Ryan Giles assists.

The result was by no means the most important factor for Boro in their friendly outing at Hibs, but Michael Carrick will never turn his nose up at a win and the 2-0 Easter Road success keeps momentum ticking until the Championship resumes when Luton Town visit the Riverside next month.

This was about match minutes and sharpness rather than the outcome and it ended up ticking all the boxes for Boro. Carrick used 21 players over the course of the 90 minutes, Paddy McNair the only player to complete the full game.

Duncan Watmore and Matt Crooks both got a useful run out and Carrick also took the opportunity to take a closer look at several Academy players.

The first half was a non-event, truth be told, but the class of Boro and in particular Akpom and Giles told after the break. Akpom looked a player full of confidence after being introduced at half-time, his touch and movement too good for the home defence.

He put Boro ahead just after the hour mark, heading home a Giles cross. And youngster Sonny Finch wrapped up the win when he slotted home a second soon after, the source from the left again Giles.

After naming the same side for four successive games before the break, this was always going to present Carrick with an opportunity to take a closer look at some players who haven’t featured much or at all since his appointment.

McNair, who hasn’t played a minute in the league under Carrick so far, started the game at centre-half with Tommy Smith keeping his spot at right-back. Youngsters Jack Robinson and Sam Collins completed the defence.

Jonny Howson was partnered by Caolan Boyd-Munce in midfield, with Willis, Crooks and Watmore supporting Rodrigo Muniz.

This was always unlikely to be a full-blooded end to end encounter and the first half was as low key and uneventful as you’d expect of a mid-season friendly.

Other than a couple of routine saves, Luke Daniels had very little to do between the posts, a Harry McKirdy shot into the side netting the closest the hosts came to a goal before the break.

Crooks was making his first start since hernia surgery and Watmore was back in action for the first time since his knock to the head against Huddersfield, both no doubt grateful for the opportunity of match minutes. Watmore was as lively as ever and there were a few classy touches from Crooks.

Boro had a strong penalty shout waved away on 20 minutes when Muniz looked to have his heels clipped after a well-timed Crooks through-ball. Soon after Pharrell Wilson went down in the box under a heavy challenge but the referee’s response was the same.

Boyd-Munce was tidy and composed in midfield and with the final kick of the opening period tried his luck with an effort from distance that was comfortably saved.

McNair and Willis were the only two players to return for the second half, with Carrick making nine changes. Liam Roberts was in goal for the second period behind a defence of Dijksteel, Hannah, McNair and Giles. Alex Mowatt was joined by 17-year-old Yacou Traore in midfield, with Willis and Finch on the flanks and Akpom and Hoppe through the middle.

Hibs were bright early in the second half and denied twice by fine Liam Roberts saves. The Boro keeper first pushed a dipping Jair Tavares effort from a tight angle over the bar and was then equal to a low Ewan Henderson strike pushing it around the post.

The hosts were on top but couldn’t take advantage and were made to pay, Boro’s lethal assist and goal machines teaming up again to put the visitors ahead. Giles and Hoppe linked up well on the left with the left-back picking out Akpom in the box, the in-form striker stopping to head home.

And five minutes later, Giles was at it again, this time picking out Finch in the box, who guided the ball into the bottom corner off the post.