MIDDLESBROUGH'S attack unsurprisingly dominated the agenda after hitting Oxford United for six on Saturday, but Michael Carrick was keen to point to the importance of an assured and confident display at the other end of the pitch.

With Seny Dieng missing the game at the Kassam Stadium through illness, Sol Brynn came in for his full Championship debut.

A filthy day made conditions difficult but Brynn coped impressively with the challenge and made a string of crucial contributions as Boro climbed into the Championship's top six with their third win on the bounce.

The 24-year-old made a tidy early to save to keep out a shot from distance and later in the opening half, with the sides tied at 1-1, made what appeared to be a massive stop when he dived at the feet of Mark Harris to deny the Oxford striker what looked like the certain goal. The offside flag would go up but Brynn wasn't to know - and in any case, his work wasn't finished there. The keeper then quickly picked out Delano Burgzorg with a pinpoint pass to start the move that led to Boro's second goal.

And in the second half he played his part as well, superbly tipping Cameron Brannagan's goal-bound strike on to the crossbar.

It was a first Championship start for Brynn and a first first team appearance since the Carabao Cup defeat to Stoke back in August.

"Sol stepped up and made some big saves," said delighted boss Carrick.

"He had a real calming presence. It's not easy after not playing much football. I'm really happy for him.

"There were so many positives, starting with Sol, he made a massive save that led to the second goal. I'm delighted for him."

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Boro's coaches have been enormously impressed by Brynn since his return to the club from his Leyton Orient loan spell at the end of last season, with the keeper handed a new long-term deal last month.

But it's not easy coming in from the cold after a lack of action, making his display at Oxford all the more impressive in the eyes of his head coach.

“He found out yesterday [Friday, that he was playing]," said Carrick.

"It was tough. He played at the Riverside a couple of weeks ago [for the Under-21s] and that was the first game he’d played since Stoke, so he’s not had loads of football.

"But it just shows how important training is to making sure you’re prepared because you never know when it might come.

"He probably wouldn’t have thought the opportunity was coming if you asked him at the start of the week. In a game like this - wet, slippy pitch, quick - it wasn’t an easy one to deal with, but he did fantastically well."