AS much as Michael Carrick enjoyed Middlesbrough's "complete" performance at Sheffield United on Wednesday night, the highlight for the head coach came in the immediate aftermath of the final whistle.

On the Bramall Lane pitch, Boro's players and staff embraced before heading over towards the away end and celebrating in front of the jubilant travelling Teessiders.

And while the focus would soon switch to the next challenge and the visit of QPR, Carrick and his players were completely present in those Bramall Lane celebrations, cherishing the moment.

"Seeing the players and supporters connect and have that atmosphere is the most rewarding part of the job," said Carrick at his press conference on Thursday afternoon, after the dust had settled on his side's impressive victory the night before.

"Players playing well with a smile on their face, enjoying it, coming into the work every single day and wanting to be here and thriving. You can see it in them, growing as training is going and the games are going, believing in themselves a little bit more and showing what they're capable of.

"There's still more to come. It's why we love football, that camaraderie, that chemistry. It's been there on and off the pitch but especially on Wednesday night celebrating wins like that with supporters is priceless."

There's also immense joy for Carrick in seeing a plan come together like it did at Bramall Lane.

"It is great to see the players play with such confidence and belief and showing what they're capable of," he says.

"I still think there's more to come individually and as a team, but I can't fault them for trying to do the things that we're asking of them to succeed. It's OK us trying to help them and give them information and coach them, but they need to feel the success to feel the benefit, and they've managed to get that.

"You can see the confidence and the presence within the team growing all the time. It's a pleasure to stand there on the touchline and watch the team work."

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And yet come Thursday morning, Boro had moved on. The players were in at Rockliffe for a light recovery session and attention immediately shifted to Saturday's game.

Carrick said: "You have to enjoy certain moments, it's how quick you move on from it. Do you let it drift for a day or two or three, or do you enjoy it, understand what happened, put it to bed and look at what's next. It's not always easy.

"It's challenging to do that, because everyone is telling you how well things are going and that was a fantastic game the other night, then before you know it it's Friday afternoon and everyone is still talking about Wednesday night, and then it's Saturday morning and everyone is still talking about Wednesday night. We certainly won't be doing that as a group.

"That's what the boys have done so well, to be consistent, to be living in the moment of what's next and what needs to be done to be prepared. That's the job, that's the business we're in and we have to be ready come Saturday afternoon.

"On Wednesday night the boys had to enjoy it. I don't mean going out partying but having a moment, on the coach on the way home letting themselves smile and have that freedom and not think too far ahead, then coming in on Thursday and preparing for the next one. We're now looking forward to what's ahead.

"It's that drive to still want to be better, to find that next win and next feeling, understanding how difficult it is to come by, even though we have managed to have a good run.

"We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves. You have to be humble enough to understand what it takes to win and appreciate the win and the work you have to put in."