MICHAEL Carrick insists Middlesbrough's heavy and surprise defeat at Huddersfield won't knock his side off track and he's backing Boro to respond in the ultimate Championship test.

Boro's promotion hopes were dented as they were stunned by Neil Warnock's Huddersfield, who ran in four goals in 22 second half minutes on Saturday.

With Sheffield United beating Norwich City, Boro are now six points adrift of the Blades having played a game more.

After the Huddersfield setback, Carrick wants a reaction from his players as they prepare for the toughest Championship test, a game against leaders Burnley.

What has been hugely impressive about Boro under Carrick is the way they've responded to setbacks. Ahead of the Huddersfield loss, the three defeats suffered since the head coach's arrival were all followed by impressive wins - which gives Carrick confidence ahead of Friday's televised encounter with Vincent Kompany's Clarets.

"It's a good game Friday for us," said Carrick.

"It's a tough game, it's a new challenge, a fresh challenge and very different type of game to what we've had at Huddersfield.

"We'll look forward to it. That's why I keep saying, one step at a time, game by game."

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Boro were ahead at the break at Huddersfield thanks to Marcus Forss's 10th goal of the season and looked well set to move through the gears and coast to another win, but they were blown away in the second half.

There'll be no over-reaction from Carrick, though, who will analyse the game and the manner of the second half collapse, assess how Boro can learn from it and then move on.

He said: "This won't set us off track in terms of how we approach the next game. We'll try and put a performance together and built it through the week and look to put it together and get a good result."