Saturday's victory over Luton Town at the Riverside moved Middlesbrough into the Championship's top half but it's an alternate league table that highlights the incredible impact of Michael Carrick on Teesside.

If the standings were determined by the second tier games played since Carrick's appointment, Boro would be sitting second, with only Sheffield United above them.

Of course, in the whole scheme of things, there's only one table that matters but the form standings show just how much Boro have improved since the change in the dugout.

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After Jordan Storey's stoppage time winner for Preston in Carrick's first game charge, Boro were above the relegation place on goals scored only.

After Matt Crooks' stoppage time winner against Luton Town - his second on the bounce - Boro moved into the top half and within touching distance of the play-off places. The Championship is as competitive as ever but the top six feels a realistic target.

After that defeat to Preston, Boro had only 17 points on the board after 17 games. They've picked up 13 points in five games since.

The dramatic Luton win made it three successes on the bounce for Boro but this one was particularly pleasing for Carrick, mainly because his side weren't at their best. That the hosts still managed to "find a way to win" in what the head coach described as a "sticky game" is another box ticked.

As much as Boro have been excellent to watch for the most part under Carrick, the boss knows that an exhibition in free-flowing is too much to ask every week, particularly in the Championship. There's an art, however, to digging deep in those difficult slogs.

“I’m happy with it because it didn’t come easy but we found a way to win," said a delighted Carrick afterwards.

"It’s not always going to be the easy on the eye football and flowing like most of our performances so far have been. We’ve played some really good stuff I think, since I’ve come. Today we had to find a little bit within ourselves because it was a bit sticky at times, particularly in the first half."

Luton's opener just after the half hour mark - a fine Jordan Clark strike from the edge of the box - was something of a wake-up call for Boro. Before that they were sluggish, understandable after a month without competitive action. But after falling behind they came to life, levelling thanks to their reliable goal making and scoring duo. Ryan Giles moved to joint-second on the Championship assist list with his delivery for Chuba Akpom, the striker heading home to move joint-top in the second tier goal charts. His remarkable resurgence continues.

At half-time Carrick pressed the importance of patience and what pleased him most in the second half was the fact Boro stuck to their plan, despite organised Luton making life difficult for them. Boro were helped, in no small part, by Amari'i Bell's red card but even before that it was the hosts who were the side pushing for the winner.

Carrick has named the same starting XI for five games in a row but is stressing the importance of his squad at every opportunity, evidence presented in the last two outings with substitute Crooks pouncing with stoppage time winners.

Duncan Watmore, making his first appearance under Carrick, also made a difference from the bench, injecting extra energy as the Hatters tired.

At half-time, Carrick had told his side to "keep going and keep believing".

"You can get a second wind at times and we understood that it was that type of game where it doesn’t come easy," he said.

"But the boys found a way and obviously it’s a terrific to win it at the end. It's always a great way to win in terms of the energy and boost within the squad."

Yet another boost for an already buzzing squad. The trip to Burnley next week is this season's ultimate Championship test but on current form you suspect Boro will back themselves to trouble the leaders at Turf Moor.

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