Steve Gibson might be considering Michael Carrick action at Middlesbrough FC now | OneFootball

The Boro chairman can't be impressed with what he's seen from Michael Carrick's team this season.

Middlesbrough's play-off hopes took a significant dent in Saturday's defeat to Millwall, and Boro chairman Steve Gibson can't be impressed with what he's seeing from Michael Carrick's team.

Middlesbrough are still very much in with a chance of achieving a top-six finish heading into the final four games of the season, but you wouldn't think that given the mood on Teesside at this moment in time.

Suffering back-to-back defeats after building up a clear wave of momentum during their four-game unbeaten stretch prior to their meetings with Leeds and Millwall respectively, it's this careless handling of a winning feeling that has Boro fans feeling fairly fed up.

The Teessiders now sit three points outside the play-off places with just 12 left to play for, and should they miss out on the chance to play for a place in the Premier League next season, those already lit touchpapers of a Carrick revolt may well grow in size and ferocity once the curtain falls.

Millwall defeat encapsulated Middlesbrough's flaws under Michael Carrick

When packing for a trip to the Lion's den, there are a handful of essentials that all opposition teams must bring in order to escape with points: bravery, energy, fight, hunger, intent, organisation, resilience are some of those - Middlesbrough packed none of them.

As such, they were easy prey for Alex Neil's side, with their 1-0 win over Boro moving them level with Carrick's team on 60 points.

In truth, it was an afternoon in South East London that encapsulated so many of the shortcomings Middlesbrough supporters have been witnessing their team display under Carrick over the last few years.

Boro enjoyed the majority of possession, but played with an inexplicable lack of tempo and intent in a game of such importance, and as such, carved out few goalscoring opportunities.

As we've seen all too often this season, Middlesbrough conceded a goal of no real quality. A weak surrendering of the ball on halfway from Hayden Hackney, before Anfernee Dijksteel was beaten too easily and failed to prevent a cross into the box.

The resulting cross then elicited a panicked 'clearance' from Rav van den Berg, before dropping to an unmarked Camiel Neghli on the penalty spot, who drove his effort past a helpless Mark Travers.

When Boro's sparing chances did arrive to test Lukas Jensen in the Millwall goal, a distinct lack of composure and confidence was evident, with shots being snatched at and indecisiveness seeing moments pass individuals by.

Carrick was once again reactive rather than proactive with his substitutions, unlike the manager in the opposing dugout, who on 58 minutes made a triple substitution - one of which was the goalscorer, Neghli - and just seven minutes later, the home side found the breakthrough.

The Boro boss then, and only then, turned to his bench, bringing on Riley McGree and Marcus Forss immediately after the ball was in the net, before eventually calling on Kelechi Iheanacho with just six minutes to play.

Gibson is renowned for being fiercely loyal to the managers he appoints, and that's been no different with Carrick.

Whether it be in the transfer market, or through the approach he's implemented on the pitch, the 67-year-old has backed the Manchester United legend to lead Middlesbrough into a bright future.

However, with Boro on the brink of recording back-to-back campaigns without a play-off place being achieved, and with his squad set to undergo yet another significant overhaul this summer, Gibson must be alarmed at the potential stagnation of his club under Carrick.

If Middlesbrough are to miss out on the top six again this season, then it will have been underlined by defensive frailties, which has been a constant issue under Boro's 43-year-old head coach ever since he arrived on Teesside.

It's been the predominant factor that has been holding Boro back, and hamstringing their promotion pushes over the last few years, and it's seemingly not improving.

Therefore, with that aspect of Middlesbrough's team likely requiring the most work doing to it this summer, has Carrick done enough to prove that he can be entrusted with recruiting and organising a promotion-standard defence?

Boro have left a frustrating number of points on the pitch this season, and so the question that many Teessiders, and indeed Gibson, will be asking is, 'could another manager have gotten more out of this group of players?'

If the answer to that is yes, then it may well be time for the Middlesbrough chairman to rule with his head over his heart, and make a brave but perhaps necessary managerial change in order to see his club reach the Premier League.