CARRICK'S BIG TAKEAWAY

It turned into a frustrating afternoon at Rotherham for Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick, who was again bemused - putting it nicely - by game-changing referee decisions.

But for all Anfernee Dijksteel's red card changed the complexion of the game, Carrick actually felt that his side improved after the break.

Carrick's complaint in the opening period was that his side got sucked into playing the game Rotherham wanted to play, which is credit to the hosts. 

In the second half, despite conceding what proved to be the only goal and playing with 10 men, the head coach saw more of the team he recognises. Indeed, by the end of the game Boro had seen almost 80% of the ball.

For the most part under Carrick, Boro have managed to impose themselves and control games, regardless of who they've come up against and the preferred approach of the opposition. But Monday was, as Carrick pointed, a learning curve.

If, for example, they come up against Millwall in the play-offs, the Lions' approach will by no means be the same as Rotherham's but there will be similarities. The game would likely be stop-start and there would be efforts made to prevent Boro from finding their rhythm.

"There are things to learn," said Carrick post-match.

"Trying to get control of the game and play the way we want and then a little bit of adapting and playing with 10 men, which might happen at some point."

Hopefully not in the play-offs.

DIJKSTEEL'S BLOW

Regardless of what you made of the sending off decision, which for the record Carrick described as "strange", there has to be sympathy for Anfernee Dijksteel.

The timing of the red card couldn't really have been any worse for the full-back. After spending months on the sidelines, Dijksteel finally got his opportunity after Tommy Smith's injury, and grasped it with both hands, impressing at right-back and linking up well with Isaiah Jones.

But he'll now have to sit out the final game against Coventry. It's a relief for Carrick and Boro that Smith is available again and appeared to come through his 45 minute return unscathed. He'll now start on the final day, you'd think, and given that he's been first choice right-back under Carrick, he's favourite to now keep his place for the play-offs.

AKPOM'S HOPE FOR BIG FINALE

Something weird happened at the New York Stadium: Chuba Akpom didn't score.

Remarkably, it's only the second time since the defeat at West Brom at the end of February that Akpom has fired a blank for Boro.

It leaves him needing a final day brace against Coventry City to hit 30 league goals for the season

Considering he's scored in every Boro home game since mid-January, it's by no means out of the question.

Regardless of whether or not he gets to 30, he has the Golden Boot raced wrapped up, his closest rival Viktor Gyokeres, who will be be playing for the opposition on the final day, seven goals back.

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SUNDERLAND NEED A FAVOUR

Boro will be looking to sign off for the play-offs in style next Monday - and Sunderland will hope they do exactly that as they bid to force their way back into the top six.

Firstly, the Black Cats need to make sure they get the job done at Preston on the final day, which, as Boro have recent experience of, is no foregone conclusion.

If Mowbray's side win then they need favours - one of which is a Boro win. If both Boro and Sunderland are victorious then the Black Cats will climb above Coventry and secure themselves a play-off place, regardless of what happens with Millwall.

If Sunderland win and Boro fail to beat Coventry, Mowbray's men need to hope Gary Rowett's Lions fail to beat Blackburn.