AFTER scoring just just 14 goals in their first 13 games, Middlesbrough have hit 15 in their last three outings, which prompts the obvious question - what's changed?

For Michael Carrick, the answer isn't obvious. Even when his side were struggling to break teams down early in the season, the head coach was never overly concerned and  thought it was only a matter of time until the goals started to flow.

Carrick admits his players are now full of confidence - inevitable after hitting QPR for four, Luton for five and Oxford for six - but he insists some of Boro's displays early in the season were just as good if not better than the recent performances, even if results don't back up that view.

“It’s difficult to say what’s changed," said Carrick ahead of tonight's visit of Blackburn Rovers, with Boro looking to make it four league wins on the bounce.

"There’s not many runs that you go on like we’ve had with as many goals going in, it’s a little bit unique really to be honest and a little bit more than we expect.

“We felt for a large part that of this season that it’s been coming, we’ve been improving and getting there. There’s no getting away from the fact that as a team we are playing some really good football.

“The lads are confident, the front players are on the end of moves, whether that’s finding a little pass or end product, and it makes the picture, in the grand scheme of things, feel a lot different.

"But, really, I still feel that we have played a lot better than we have in the last couple of weeks and lost games this season. That’s football.

“We’ve certainly deserved to win the games that we’ve won but there’s not always a clear reason or answer but it’s just great to see the lads playing so well, enjoying their football and working hard for each other. As a squad we are in a good place."

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And Boro will be in an even better place if they can take maximum points from the visits of Blackburn tonight and struggling Hull City on Saturday.

Carrick said: "Momentum is something you need to use at the right time and try to build and evolve it but it’s only a word. You have to go and make it happen again.

"It’s nice that we’ve been in a good place in terms of performances and the feeling within the group but it’s always about what’s next, that’s what keeps you on edge and pushing.

"You never know what’s around the corner but we’ll take the good feeling that we’ve got and be positive going into the game for sure."

Tonight's visitors Blackburn started the season well but have won just two of their last eight and lost three on their bounce prior to their win at Cardiff before the international break. Saturday's scheduled game against Portsmouth was postponed but Carrick doesn't think that will work against his side tonight.

He said: "Between Saturday and Wednesday is more than enough time to recover. It is what it is.

"We know where we are at, the boys have recovered well and prepared well and are ready for the game."

Carrick was pleased with the way his players quickly shifted their attention after Saturday's 6-2 thumping of Oxford though stressed the importance of enjoying a result like that - and that goes for the coaching staff as well as the playing squad.

For Carrick, the joy of an emphatic victory is a different feeling as a manager to how it was as a player.

He said: "What’s the better feeling? You could argue both ways. As you play and you’re in the thick of it, there’s all the effort and energy that goes into it and living in the moment means that, when something comes off, it feels amazing.

"Being on the sideline, it’s a bit more trying to plot it and it is more satisfying and rewarding in terms of the plan or the information working. It’s different, but it’s rewarding in both ways that’s for certain."