Middlesbrough FC: Michael Carrick haters should hold off after Latte Lath masterstroke | OneFootball

The Boro head coach pulled off a stroke of man management genius to claim all three points in a crucial win over the Blades on Wednesday night.

Michael Carrick took an Emmanuel Latte Lath-sized gamble vs Sheffield United on Wednesday night, and Boro reaped the rewards on an important night at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro entered Wednesday night's clash with the Blades and former Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder having lost their last two, as growing sections of the fanbase began to voice their frustrations with their team.

Carrick had been garnering criticism over some of his personnel decisions, with some even beginning to ask the question as to whether he was the right man to get the best out of a talented group of players.

Middlesbrough have been gifting avoidable goals away at the back, whilst in attack, they've been frustratingly wasteful in front of goal so far this season. The form of Latte Lath being one of the biggest headscratchers.

The Ivorian international hadn't scored since the opening day ahead of the meeting with Sheffield United, and looked a shadow of his former goalscoring self from last season.

So, when the Middlesbrough teamsheet was announced, it was revealed that Carrick had made a big call that could be a stroke of genius, or further call into question his decision-making...

Carrick drops Latte Lath for Tommy Conway

Decisions like the one Carrick had to make with Latte Lath on Wednesday night are the type that make managers their money, and can showcase just how good a coach they are.

It was a real conundrum for the Boro boss; does he continue to stick with his striker through his bad form in the hope that he'll eventually come good? Or does he take his proven goalscorer out of the firing line for one of the club's biggest games of the season so far?

Carrick decided to go with the second option, and relegated his out of form number nine - who bagged 16 goals in 30 Championship games last season - to the bench, and gave the starting nod to summer signing Tommy Conway.

This was a game that Middlesbrough needed to have in order to keep touch with the early season play-off pace being set, and certainly for Carrick too, as back-to-back home defeats would not have gone down well with supporters...

Boro's number nine provides Carrick with a masterstroke

With 77 minutes on the clock, it was looking like yet another one of those frustratingly predictable Middlesbrough performances; carve out a number of big chances, but fail to put the ball in the net.

The game was hanging in the balance, as despite Boro being in the ascendancy, the Blades had spurned a number of big chances too. It was time for a change.

Carrick turned to his bench and called for his number nine, and as he ran onto the Riverside pitch replacing Conway, there was that old sense of the inevitable happening that had been missing this season; he was going to score.

As Middlesbrough supporters serenaded their striker with his song, he instantly set about pressing the ball, sparking life into Boro's attack once again. Just three minutes after coming on, Lath would highlight Carrick's man management and coaching ability in glorious fashion.

Finn Azaz's inch-perfect delivery was met by the head of Lath level with the penalty spot, before he thundered home a diving header into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Michael Cooper in the Blades goal totally powerless to prevent the goal.

From there, Middlesbrough saw the game out well, and claimed a vital three points in what could, and perhaps needs to be a turning point in their season.

Carrick will surely have banked a lot of credit after Blades win

Managers don't get it right all the time, but few can argue that on the night he marked his 100th game in charge of Middlesbrough with a stroke of man management genius, that Carrick hasn't got the majority of his decisions right.

A 50% win ratio in spite of Boro's disastrous start to last season, and with a playing squad that has undergone a huge overhaul from the one he inherited just two years ago.

When things aren't going to plan, as they hadn't been so far this season for Boro, people naturally always want to search for the root of the problem, and in football, that can often lead them to who's sitting in the dug out.

But Carrick's tactical approach hasn't been the issue for Middlesbrough, as when it comes to creating chances, they've been one of if not the best in the Championship so far this season.

Indeed, after the opening 11 games of the season, Boro lead the league in Expected goals (19.7) and touches in the opposition box (407). They also rank third in average possession (57%), third in shots on target per match (4.8), second in accurate passes per match (452.8) and third in corners (79) - per FotMob.

However, they also rank third in the number of big chances missed (21) per FotMob, and therefore it would suggest their problems haven't been stemming from the tactics board. Rather, it's just not been dropping for Boro in front of goal.

But, that could now change after Wednesday night.

Pressure has been lifted off Latte Lath's shoulders, confidence will be back among the group that they can score goals and win games, and Carrick will feel justified in his unwavering belief that his team have been doing the right things.

At the very least, it should keep any vultures away that might have been beginning to circle around Middlesbrough's head coach.