Michael Carrick Middlesbrough future questioned after ‘failure’ vs Coventry City, Steve Gibson was ‘desperate’

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Middlesbrough’s season ended in disappointing fashion against Coventry City on May 3.

After a defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and a draw with Norwich City, Middlesbrough’s top-six fate was out of their hands on the final day.

They had to beat Coventry City and then hope Blackburn Rovers and Millwall dropped points in their fixture.

Burnley beat Millwall 3-1, while Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 with third-place Sheffield United.

That did not matter in the end, however, as Middlesbrough lost 2-0 to Frank Lampard’s side.

The Teessiders have finished the season in 10th place – their lowest finish since Michael Carrick took charge.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	SunderlandSunderland	45	21	13	11	58	43	15	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	45	17	16	12	57	53	4	67
6	CoventryCoventry	45	19	9	17	62	58	4	66
7	MillwallMillwall	45	18	12	15	46	46	0	66
8	BlackburnBlackburn	45	19	8	18	52	47	5	65
9	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	45	18	10	17	64	54	10	64
10	West BromWest Brom	45	14	19	12	52	44	8	61
11	SwanseaSwansea	45	17	9	19	48	53	-5	60
12	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	45	15	12	18	59	68	-9	57
13	WatfordWatford	45	16	8	21	52	60	-8	56

Michael Carrick Middlesbrough future questioned after Coventry City

Boro’s dire record against Coventry has continued, with the North East outfit still having never won at the CBS arena.

Ben Wilson was excellent across the 90 minutes for the home side, but it was still another underwhelming showing from Middlesbrough.

And speaking live on Sky Sports commentary at the end of the match, lead comentator Gary Weaver questioned what the defeat will mean for Carrick’s future on Teesside.

He said: “You wonder what this means for the future of Michael Carrick. Steve Gibson so desperate for it to work out for him, to be the man to take Middlesbrough back to the Premier League.

“As we said earlier, this will be seen as a failure on Teesside, not to make the top six, they felt this was the best season, to get out of the Championship and back to the Premier League.”

Expert view on Michael Carrick Middlesbrough future

As already mentioned, it’s the lowest league finish for Boro since Carrick took charge.

Middlesbrough previously finished fourth and seventh under the former Manchester United midfielder.

After failing to make the play-offs, it looks as though their will be a change of manager at the Riverside Stadium.

We spoke to transfer expert Graeme Bailey about Carrick’s Middlesbrough future in late March, and he told us: “If Middlesbrough make the play-offs it might be enough for Carrick to keep his job, although unlikely.

“The fans are not happy with how things have gone, but the squad has struggled with injuries. If they made the play-offs and went out, much would depend on how they go out – if they went out with a whimper then I would find it hard to imagine he stays – likewise, no play-offs and he is surely gone.

“Boro’s hierarchy have done work on potential options and Steve Cooper is someone the club admire and they did talk to him prior to Carrick’s appointment.”