Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick felt his side produced some of their best football since he took charge during the first half of their 3-1 victory at Cardiff, before then showing their battling qualities to secure the points.

The former Manchester United midfielder saw his in-form Boro team chalk up an 11th win in 15 matches since taking over at the Riverside in October.

Goals from Marcus Forss and Cameron Archer before the break and a late Riley McGree clincher did the damage, while Cardiff replied through new Guinean striker Sory Kaba.

“I’m really pleased, we knew it would be a hard game and we expected it, but we were ready for it,” said Carrick, whose Boro team lie third in the Championship table, though still 10 points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.

“It was a game of two halves in terms of our style, in the first half we played some of the best stuff since I came here.

“In the second half we had to dig in, but the boys who came off the bench made a really big difference for us.

“I was proud of the efforts the boys put in and they got their reward. The way we responded to giving the goal away was pleasing, and in the end I am really happy.”

In contrast, new Cardiff boss Sabri Lamouchi is discovering just how mountainous a task it could be to keep the Bluebirds in the division.

Lamouchi took over from the sacked Mark Hudson last month and brought in former fans’ favourite Sol Bamba as his assistant.

But any new manager bounce has been conspicuous in its absence, with Lamouchi losing his first two matches in charge to Luton and Hull by the same 1-0 margin.

This defeat was much more comprehensive, and Lamouchi admitted he and his players are up against it in their bid to avoid the drop – even though they remain just above the relegation zone.

He said: “This is a tough challenge and I am not a magician.

“I still believe we will do it (stay up). I must be positive. We just need to get some confidence to get results.

“I think the players believe, they fight and they have the quality to make a difference.

“Middlesbrough is one of the best teams in this league.”

Lamouchi added: “For my first home game I was expecting a different result but we must be honest, they played well.

“We gave them the first goal, we came back quickly but you saw the difference between one team playing with confidence and the other without it.

“They deserved the three points. We tried to have a different energy and mentality in the second half and we competed more.

“We tried everything but unfortunately it was not enough.

“I have maximum optimism, we just need to work.”