EMMANUEL LATTE LATH’S winner might have stolen the headlines, but Michael Carrick took most satisfaction from the way in which his Middlesbrough players dealt with the challenges posed by a difficult first half during last night’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

Having gone into the game on the back of successive defeats to Watford and Bristol City, there was an understandable edginess to Boro’s early play at the Riverside.

Passes were going astray, players seemed reluctant to take too many risks, and the growing frustration was evident in the stands as Sheffield United threatened to gain the upper hand.

When Luke Ayling prevented a superb goalline clearance to prevent Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from opening the scoring, it felt like Boro might go under, but instead, the midway point of the first half proved a turning point in the game.

From that point on, Boro’s players got onto the front foot, and by the time Latte Lath headed home a 77th-minute winner, the hosts had become the dominant force in the game by some distance.

Tackling adversity head on is not an easy thing to do, and while the standard of Boro’s overall play can still improve, Carrick claims last night’s success proves the character of his players cannot be questioned.

READ MORE:

“I thought Sheffield United started well to be honest,” said the Boro boss. “I thought they started really well. They caused us a few bits of issues and we didn't have that bit in-between. We didn't quite hit the rhythm and have that control that we wanted to look for. We had to deal with a few little bits.

"If anything, it's a really good sign for me that we did have that, which in some ways could have made it even more difficult. But we had that belief and that confidence to carry on and get back to what we're doing. It's not easy against a really good team, and they are a really good team with some really terrific individual players.

"To gain that element of control for the rest of the game, we felt they had a few moments, it's credit to the boys for being able to do that because it's not easy.

“I'm just really pleased for the boys because they got their reward for the performance and the good football that we've been playing. With and without the ball, it was a good night for us.”

Last night’s game was Carrick’s 100th in charge of Boro, and the former England international has already experienced plenty of ups and downs during his time on Teesside.

He has already learned the importance of sticking together, and claims the experiences of the last few weeks will stand the whole club in good stead. Players, staff and supporters all went through the mill last night, but the celebratory scenes at the final whistle will have strengthened the bonds holding everything together.

“You're going to have times like that, especially in this game,” said Carrick. “You can’t expect to come and everything be a fairytale, there's times in a season or in games, especially against teams like this, where it might not go to plan.

“That's when you’re tested. I think that's when the supporters are tested, and that's when it comes together.”