‘Sad’ Middlesbrough debrief after Coventry ahead of summer of change

There’d been tears in there as there was on the pitch. Chuba Akpom was inconsolable, Hayden Hackney looked numb. That promotion felt not just possible but probable for long stages this season was thanks, in no small part, to the excellence of those two.

Carrick didn’t attempt to lift his players in the dressing room. It was too early and too raw. Instead, he thanked them and told them of his pride.

On the pitch at the full-time whistle, after a defiant chant from Boro’s stunned supporters, Carrick consoled every single player and, alongside Darragh Lenihan, led the way as the devastated squad showed their appreciation to fans. This, with Coventry’s fans celebrating and Sweet Caroline blaring out of the away dressing room, just as it had done on the final day of the regular season, wasn’t the way it was supposed to end.

For long stages of the second half of the season, promotion – and this is no exaggeration – felt like an inevitability for Boro. Blackburn and Sheffield United away, Norwich home, Preston home. So good.

The Huddersfield defeat was a key moment because it handed Sheffield United the initiative and was the weekend Boro’s automatic promotion hopes realistically disappeared. In the weeks that followed they almost became a victim of their own previous excellence, the early guarantee of a top six finish leaving Boro in something of a play-off purgatory. Momentum was lost.

The injury situation undoubtedly played its part. Jonny Howson was so sorely missed on Wednesday night, his football and leadership skills. On a personal level, it’s impossible not to feel great sympathy for Howson. So desperate to lead Boro to promotion, his dream since his arrival six years ago, he’s been a helpless spectator in the stands at the side’s time of need.

He sat alongside fellow absentee Aaron Ramsey, who kicked every ball. Boro desperately lacked his spark and speed and ability to get in behind.

Fair play to Coventry, who did a job on Boro. The extra man in midfield worked a treat and Viktor Gyokeres was superb. He’s surely heading for the Premier League, regardless of how next weekend’s final plays out.

“You can’t lift them now,” said Carrick, after finally emerging from the Boro dressing room.

“It’s acceptance of the situation. I’m hugely proud of them, I thanked them for their effort, what they have given us since I’ve been here and my staff. Their effort, attitude, willingness to learn and the spirit. It’s a special group of players and a special group of staff.”

What made Wednesday night’s defeat all the more difficult to take is the sense of a real missed opportunity and the fact the early signs are pointing towards a tough Championship next term. Southampton are coming down and look likely to be joined by two of Leicester, Leeds and Everton. Ipswich are coming up with momentum and money. West Brom, Norwich and Watford are three teams you’d expect to be stronger.

Then again, those three teams would have been the nailed on picks of many for top six finishes this season. The Championship isn’t won on paper. Just ask next weekend’s Wembley finalists.

And after charging from 21st to fourth in seven months, and playing some breathtakingly brilliant football along the way, Carrick’s Boro won’t fear anyone. Carrick now has his first full summer as boss to build on what’s already been achieved.

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Boro can only focus on themselves and recovering from this setback to come back stronger. Hardly a weekly press conference passes without Carrick talking about how he only looks forward not back, and that will be the theme when the squad get together for a meeting at Rockliffe on Thursday.

It is, as Carrick himself admitted, “one final time” this group will be together as one. The team will look different when Boro report back for the start of pre-season.

“It’s quite sad in a way because it’s the last time we’ll all be together because football is football and the group gets, not split up, but there’s ins and outs, there are lads on loan, what happens next with them, so the group changes, it’ll be a new group,” said Carrick.

“It is the last time we’ll be together as one and I just hope in years to come they look back on this as a really good time and a special group they’ve been part of.”

Will any of the loan players return? It’s obviously too early to know. Aston Villa will have a good look at Archer and Ramsey. There could be a case to be made that another full season in the Championship would suit the latter. At 23, Ryan Giles will surely either get his Wolves chance or be sold permanently. Zack Steffen wants to leave Manchester City to play regularly each week but his current wage is substantially more than what Boro could offer. Carlos Corberan wants to have a look at Alex Mowatt, while Rodrigo Muniz will return to Fulham.

Wednesday night was the end for this squad but Carrick will soon be focusing on next season’s new Boro start. Fans will no doubt fear the prospect of Premier League clubs circling around Carrick but there’s been no fluttering of the head coach’s eyelashes. He’s talked repeatedly about how happy he is at Boro and his intentions after Wednesday night’s heartbreak were clear.

He said: “For us that are here and fighting and wanting to improve and be better, we have to come back stronger and look at what’s ahead.”

Carrick has been on the receiving end of hammer blows as a player. He knows that it’s how you respond that separates the good from the great.

“We’ve just lost a big, big game and a big opportunity,” he said.

“We have to try and learn from it. It’s up to us what happens next.”