MICHAEL Carrick praised his clinical Middlesbrough side for their devastating "bursts" in the 4-1 dismantling of Cardiff City.

Boro bounced back from their Leeds defeat on Monday with an emphatic victory in Wales.

Matt Clarke set Boro on their way in first half stoppage time before three goals in 11 minutes from Finn Azaz, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Alex Gilbert wrapped up the points.

Josh Bowler scored a stoppage time consolation for the Bluebirds but that didn't take the shine off a good day for Boro and Carrick.

“I’m really happy with the result," he said.

"I thought we played really well in bursts really. We capitalised on that with some of the quality of football that we played and the goals that we scored. It made the game a little bit easier for us.

"There were maybe spells where the game drifted a little bit for us as well, which is maybe understandable in the circumstances and with a few changes. But, all in all, a really good day for us. Another away win, scoring some good goals and looking dangerous. We can pleased with a lot of things."

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Boro's defeat to Leeds on Monday brought to an end their hopes of a top six finish but Carrick's players quickly put that disappointment behind them.

“The boys went about it in the right away, with is testament to their self-motivation and pride," said the head coach.

"There is an element of that edge that is taken away. But I thought the boys done everything right and largely played some decent football. We maybe would have liked to have been a little bit more consistent throughout the whole game. But in terms of being clinical, going- about it in the right way and having the desire to win, I’m really pleased with the day we’ve had."

Boro were denied a clean sheet in the dying seconds but goalkeeper Seny Dieng played a starring role in the victory. He made a brilliant early save to tip David Turnbull's audacious lob over the bar when the game was goalless. Then, immediately after the restart when Boro were just one goal to the good Dieng made a second superb stop, pushing Dimitrios Goutas's header onto the post.

Carrick said: “Big saves. The first one from where I was looked like it was going in, so he’s done a hell of a job to get that.

"They’re big saves. As a goalkeeper, we don’t want him to have much to do, but if and when he’s called upon, they’re the big saves that we need him to make. He did that.

"We’re just a bit disappointed to throw the clean sheet away in the end. It won’t spoil the day though because largely we defended okay and when Seny did have something to do he did it well."