MICHAEL Carrick says the key battle Middlesbrough need to win if they're going to come out on top of today's Wear-Tees derby is dealing with the emotions of the occasion - and believes the clash against in-form Sunderland will be a good measure for his fast-improving Boro side.
Carrick's Boro lost on their last visit to Wearside in January, when Dael Fry's sending off swung the game in Sunderland's favour and goals from Ross Stewart and Amad Diallo secured a home win for Mowbray's side.
Carrick was angry with the red card decision at the time but insists Boro don't head up the A19 fuelled by any sense of injustice. What his players will do, however, is use the experience gained from last season's derby clashes.
For all Carrick will approach the game tactically as he does any other Championship fixture, he says key in coping with all that surrounds an "extra-charged" derby is ensuring his players are in the right frame of mind.
"Managing the game is important, and part of that is the atmosphere and the momentum switches or flow within the game," said Carrick, whose Boro side have won their last three Championship games.
"That’s the case with any game, but of course a game like this that is maybe a little extra charged, it becomes a big part of it.
“I think there is an element of understanding the game and the motion of that which you have to manage that. That’s like any game.
"Sometimes you need that extra motivation and kick yourself into gear if it doesn’t quite come naturally because you can’t naturally be up for every single game. Sometimes you have to find ways to motivate yourself. But other times, like this game, you almost have to calm yourself down and keep your feet on the ground.
"It’s a constant battle to be in the right spot to be able to have your peak performance. There is a big atmosphere and naturally a lot of emotion and a lot of intensity around the game, but when you’ve got to perform you’ve got to pull yourself away from that. You have to be able to think clearly and have that composure about you, while still having that fire and passion, which the boys will have.
"That’s the balance you have to find in these games. We all love football because of the emotional aspect. Certain games have different emotions for different players. That’s something as a player that you’ve got to deal with - you take it a little bit, but also kind of hide it a little bit as well. That’s the challenge, but our boys have all played these kind of games before, so I don’t have any concerns with them."
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Sunderland vs Boro meetings cough up the usual derby debate. While Sunderland fans might argue against, for most Boro supporters it most certainly is.
Carrick said: "What's a derby, really? It's local. Both teams are looking forward to it, both sets of supporters are looking forward to it. It means a lot.
"I don't really know what a derby is these days and whether you can say 100% whether it is or not. But it's a huge game for the area, for the North-East. It's a fantastic game and why we love football.
"We'll have to approach it like every other game. There's no hiding the fact there's extra emotion and extra bit of excitement around the place. That's brilliant, you have to use that as positive."
Emotions aside and focusing purely on the football, Carrick knows it's a big test for his side against a Sunderland team that go into the game fourth in the league and having won six of their last eight games.
Carrick said: "They’re playing very well and have a really good team. They’re very young, but, from their point of view, that’s exciting because they’ve got a lot of talent there.
"Tony has done a terrific job in moulding them together. It’s a really good game for us to test ourselves - an exciting one and the type of game you want to be involved in. The supporters will be looking forward to it, the players will be, so let’s hope for a good game and a good performance from us to give us the best chance to get the right result."
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