MICHAEL CARRICK is hoping that his exploits with Middlesbrough this season are “just the start of something” – and has pledged to continue driving the club forward next term.

Boro’s season came crashing to an end as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Coventry City in this evening’s play-off semi-final second leg at the Riverside.

While Coventry head into a Wembley final against Luton Town, Carrick will meet his players at Rockliffe Park in the morning for a final debrief before the summer.

The Boro boss inherited a side that were struggling in 21st position in the table when he replaced Chris Wilder in late October, and while tonight’s defeat might have been a disappointing way to end the campaign, Carrick feels it is important not to lose sight of just how far the club has come in the last six months.

He said: “I’m proud of the players and their effort, and the whole club really, the staff and supporters, for how far we’ve come. I’m proud of the journey we’ve been on so far, and hopefully it’s just the start of something.

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“It’s up to us to make the next step now, as hard as it is right now and as tough as it is to take. It’s a tough experience for the boys, the young players haven’t had that kind of experience or played in that type of environment before so hopefully they’ll be better for it. I’m sure they will be.”

Boro’s team this evening contained a number of young players having their first taste of the play-offs, and Carrick feels they will benefit from the experience, even if it ended in intense disappointment.

He said: “I’ve felt during my career, and in life in general, that the tough times are the ones you end up learning from and coming back stronger when you come through it.

“As tough as it is now, and horrible to go through, we’ve got a lot of time to think about it over the summer and we’ve got to come back stronger.”

Boro struggled to lay a glove on Coventry in this evening’s game, with their only concerted spell of pressure coming in the final ten minutes when their opponents dropped deep in an attempt to hold on to their lead.

Coventry hardly created a flurry of chances themselves, but Viktor Gyokeres was a handful all evening and Gustavo Hamer made the most of the one opportunity that came his way, curling a brilliant finish into the top corner after Ryan Giles lost position in his own half to spark a Sky Blues attack.

Carrick said: “It was a tight game really. We just didn’t really get that clear-cut chance. The moments where it looked like we might get one, it didn’t quite happen for us. That’s football at this level, when you’ve got two even teams and tight games. It’s just moments that do it.

“I can’t fault the players at all for their effort. Their attitudes have been top class every day since I’ve been here, I’ve not had one ounce of issues or a problem with any of them. I can’t fault them. When you come up short, you’ve got to take it on the chin and accept that we’ve been beaten at the wrong time.”