MICHAEL Carrick says there's "no hiding" from Middlesbrough's disappointing start to the season in terms of results, but the head coach is looking at the bigger picture and still believes his side will be in the mix at the top of the Championship when it matters.

Boro's winless start to the season extended to three games on Saturday, but Carrick was hugely encouraged by the display in the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town at the Riverside, and believes his young Boro side - with new recruits still to arrive before the end of the transfer window - will get better and better as the campaign rolls on.

Although Carrick admits results have been disappointing in the first three weeks of the season, the head coach has seen more than enough to be convinced wins are just around the corner and Boro will start to quickly climb the Championship table, as they did after his arrival in October last year.

With the transfer window running until the end of next week, it remains something of a strange time for managers, who know the make-up of their squad could change between now and the start of September. Boro hope to bring in at least one more forward player and are also in the market for a midfielder before the deadline, and while Carrick is in close contact with the club's recruitment team, he says his focus is on the players currently at his disposal.

"I'm concentrating on working with the group and trying to get the best out of us, putting things in place," said Boro's boss.

"I keep saying it - it's a hell of a long season. I think history proves that over time and especially in this league. There's almost waves of form that can be created from going on a winning streak to maybe starting a little bit sticky or whatever.

"It's up to us to finish stronger and to gain momentum through the season. In the end that's the story that'll be told."

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Boro have already added nine players and last season's beaten Championship semi-finalists have a new look this term, with several of the new recruits being relatively inexperienced youngsters.

Carrick believes those individuals and the team as a whole will improve as the season progresses.

He said: "Listen, we'd love more points. Of course we would and I'm not hiding from that fact but that's not the whole story. There's a big picture here and as I said, there's quite a big difference in the individuals, the atmosphere around the group hasn't changed but we're still bedding young players into the team.

"Sometimes it takes a little bit of time but I've seen enough and I think from my point of view we've done enough in games. Things just aren't quite (dropping) - and I know it's an easy excuse when things aren't dropping for you and I'm aware of that - but I do feel we're doing a lot of good things and probably not getting the rewards at both ends of the pitch, it's up to us to change that."