It's three wins on the bounce for Middlesbrough after their hard-fought success at Birmingham on Tuesday night.

Riley McGree's stunning goal settled it, with Boro moving to within five points of the Championship's top six. 

Here are the key talking points:

IT WASN'T PERFECT - BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER CARRICK

Riley McGree's stunner aside, it would be a struggle to pull together clips from this grind of a game to a make a highlights package. So forgettable was the second half, the main talking point was the hamstring injury suffered by referee Andy Davies.

In an ideal world, Carrick would like his Boro side to be more free-flowing than they were at St Andrew's, but as the head coach admitted afterwards: "Football is not perfect and we can’t always expect the perfect game. Sometimes you have to do certain things within a game to be successful and the boys have certainly found a way in the last couple of games."

Boro have struggled to find the right balance between defence and attack at times this season but they've shown their steely side in their last two outings. Carrick's side had kept just one clean sheet since the end of November prior to Saturday's trip to QPR so to notch two shut-outs in four days will satisfy the head coach greatly. Not since October have Boro kept successive clean sheets - it's a good time to end that five-month wait.

"When I say find a way, that’s through being a good team and being solid and hard to play against," he said.

"That’s a trait and a quality to be proud of. We know we’re capable of a little bit more with the ball and showing a little bit of quality. But that will come if we keep doing the right things."

TRIO DELIVER WITH DECISION TIME FAST APPROACHING

"Experience can be a beautiful thing," said Carrick in his post-match press conference on Tuesday night.

Three key Boro players have certainly put their experience to good use over the course of the last week.

It's no surprise that Boro's turnaround has coincided with the return of Jonny Howson. As has been the case for a many a year now on Teesside, the fact remains that when Howson is playing, Boro are a better team.

It always feels like there's an extra layer of protection when Howson is on the pitch and his calming influence helped Boro through the second half at St Andrew's. Another contract extension is surely inevitable for the skipper.

The future of Paddy McNair doesn't feel anywhere near as clear cut. In truth, all season it's felt more likely that McNair's time on Teesside would come to an end this summer when his current deal expires.

If Boro wanted to keep McNair, the 28-year-old - one of the club's top earners - would have to accept reduced terms. After the game at Birmingham, the former Manchester United man told BBC Tees he's happy to wait until the summer before any talks over his future take place. He hasn't been a regular throughout this season but McNair showed his class at St Andrew's.

He was superb defensively and suits playing in a back three, confidently stepping out of the defence. If Carrick continues with this system, McNair will be a key man between now and the end of the season.

As will Luke Ayling, another player fast approaching decision time. His contract at Leeds United is up in the summer and it's accepted he'll be leaving Elland Road. He's playing for a longer-term deal at Boro and has done his chances no harm with his displays against QPR and Birmingham.

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CARRICK RARITY

What's the one word you've seen or heard used to describe Carrick more than any other? Calm.

Boro's head coach has the ultimate technical area poker face, rarely showing his emotions. But he was visibly frustrated at times during the first half on Tuesday night, despite the fact his side were winning?

Why?

"I think I just expect a lot of the boys, that's probably me just being a pain," he said afterwards.

Carrick knew Boro could have had breathing space at half-time and had failed to make the most of some promising openings. But it didn't prove costly and come his post-match press conference, he was talking about his delight and pride at a job done rather than a frustration at a missed opportunity.

TOP SIX HOPES

So, where does this leave Boro?

Only in the Championship could talk so swiftly turn from fears of a relegation scrap to a late promotion push.

A top six finish is clearly still a big ask for Boro but they're at least in the conversation and, importantly, the mood has been transformed over the last week or so. Blackburn on Saturday feels important. A win would carry Boro into the international break with real momentum but anything less than three points will result in top six talk likely being shelved once more, such are the fine margins.

“Let’s see where we go," said Carrick.

"We’ve had a good week. Tonight we knew we were the only game played so we knew we could make a bit of a jump and there was no hiding from that.

"We made the most of what tonight was and let’s see what comes up next. Just because we’ve won here, it doesn’t mean that the next one is going to come naturally. We need to start again and prepare for Saturday and look forward to that."