Having come up against Middlesbrough sides managed by both Chris Wilder and Michael Carrick, Luton boss Rob Edwards is in a unique position in being able to assess how Boro have changed this season.

Edwards was in the Watford dugout when the Hornets beat Wilder's side back in August, after which Boro were just a point and two places above the relegation zone.

Almost four months later and Edwards came up against Boro again, though this time he was in charge of Luton Town and facing a side managed by Carrick.

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Back in August, Edwards was celebrating a stoppage time winner when Vakoun Bayo broke Boro hearts; at the weekend he was on the receiving end of added time devastation when substitute Matt Crooks struck.

In between those two games, Edwards was actually linked with the Boro job - one of the candidates to replace Wilder when he was sacked in October. It was Carrick who got the nod and Edwards has been hugely impressed by how quickly the former Manchester United midfielder has put his own touch on Boro and their play.

In a considered assessment of how Boro have changed since the switch in the dugout, Edwards said he believes Carrick's side have "more control" in games than the side he came up against earlier this season, likes the shape and the balance in midfield.

He said: "They've changed the shape. The shape of the team, when you have the ball, can become something different.

"It's really clear how they're trying to play. They had more control today than when I played them earlier in the season.

"I really like the identity that Michael has very quickly been able to get. They have some really good footballers here and they're getting the best out of them at the moment.

"They've always been a possession based team but even more so now. They have even more control and they do make it difficult. If you get the press wrong they find a little in and out and break the press and they're out.

"I think they have a bit more control, they're more possession based, taking a centre-back out and looking to get McGree in those difficult spaces. They find some brilliant pockets. With Hackney now, a young lad who has taken his opportunity and done really well, with him and Jonny Howson, they have two who are comfortable with the ball and who can give them some strength without it as well.

"I like what they've done. Both games have been really right, there's been a late winner in both games, I was on the right end of one earlier in the season and the wrong one now."

Saturday's success lifted Boro into the top half of the Championship table, above Luton on goal difference and just four points shy of the play-off places.

Edwards is targeting a top six spot with the Hatter this season and fully expects Boro to be in that mix come the end of the campaign.

He said of his own ambitions with Luton: "We want to try and keep progressing the football club.

"Nathan (Jones), the lads and everyone set really high standards. We want to continue that, we don't want to drop off, we want to make sure come the last stretch we're in the mix for that top six.

"There's a lot of clubs that will feel the same. This (Boro) is one. I know they're going to be. But I really believe in the group we've got as well. They've shown they can do it. We have to aim for that, we have to show we're progressing."

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