MICHAEL Carrick was this week asked whether Middlesbrough’s top six hopes were still alive. Forget the play-offs, Boro need to be wary of what’s happening below.

The gap to the relegation places is now just six points and with Boro very much on the slide, there's a real risk of getting sucked in.

It might be too early to start panicking but that will soon change if Boro continue to play as they did at Stoke City. The Potters came into this game in something of a crisis. They’d won just one in seven, a grim run that saw them drop into the bottom three and led to suggestions this week Steven Schumacher would soon be out of a job.

But they were good value for their victory against Boro, who were flat in the first half and dreadful in the second. The second half display was as bad as the first half at Sheffield Wednesday in September.

Once again, defensive mistakes proved costly. Luke Ayling’s error led to Bae Junho’s opener five minutes before the break and Boro’s response in the second half was pitiful. Lewis Baker wrapped up the victory for the Potters.

Stoke had scored just two goals at home in 2024 prior to Boro’s visit and 12 goals at the bet365 Stadium all season. Only Leicester have scored more goals on their travels than Boro but the only shot on target Carrick's side managed in the second half was in the 94th minute.

There was a rallying cry from Stoke’s interim technical director Jon Walters ahead of Boro's visit while under-fire Schumacher stressed in his programme notes the importance of unity and "showing in spades the kind of desire and commitment the fans deserve to see". He got a reaction from his players. Now Carrick needs one ahead of Wednesday’s visit of Norwich. After that comes trips to rivals QPR and Birmingham.

Boro started promisingly and almost the silenced the home fans within five minutes when Riley McGree met Luke Thomas’s pass and wriggled beyond the last defender only to be superbly denied by home keeper Daniel Iversen.

Stoke should have then scored themselves. Dan Barlaser was sloppy and cheaply conceded possession on the edge of his own box and the home side worked it right to Million Manhoef, who lacked composure and blazed over from close range.

Emmanuel Latte Lath was back in the starting XI - one of four changes, with Seny Dieng, Matt Clarke and Sam Greenwood also coming into the team - and the striker almost marked his return with a goal. He broke beyond the defence and rounded Iversen but Michael Rose covered well and cleared off the line.

A lack of control resulted in openings at both ends. McGree fired over for Boro and Ennis forced a save out of Dieng.

Boro were lacking attacking inspiration but looked in little danger defensively. But as has so often been the case in recent months, they contributed to their own downfall. Stoke’s opener was so easily avoidable.

A long punt forward should have been dealt with by Ayling but he misjudged the bounce, allowing Junho to pick up the loose ball. The Leeds loanee then tried and failed to make amends with the winger evading the tackle and slotting into Dieng’s bottom corner.

If Carrick was hoping for a reaction after half-time, it didn’t come. Boro were dreadful in the opening 15 minutes of the second half and never improved. Stoke should have wrapped up the points earlier than they did. Barlaser was again caught out in his own half and rescued by Dieng, who denied Laurent from close range.

The second goal 19 minutes from time came from a well worked set-piece, with former Boro loanee Baker lashing in from the edge of the box.