sport news Middlesbrough move into fifth by beating Birmingham, while Norwich and Burnley ... trends now
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Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick demanded more from his players after they moved back into the play-off places with another win.
Matt Crooks’ brace and Chuba Akpom’s late strike earned a deserved victory at Birmingham four days after Boro’s 2-1 win at third-placed Blackburn.
Tahith Chong pulled a goal back for Birmingham to give them hope before Akpom rubber-stamped Boro’s sixth win in their last seven games — and fourth since the Championship resumed after the break for the World Cup.
Middlesbrough impressed on Monday with a 3-1 away win over Birmingham
Former Manchester United midfielder Carrick has lifted Boro from fourth bottom to fifth since being appointed to replace Chris Wilder in October but told his players they cannot let up.
He said: ‘It’s never enough, we said that at half-time and after the game. I’m really proud of the lads but it’s never enough.
‘We have to keep pushing and there is half the season to go. I’m enjoying it, it’s a great place for me to be every day. We have great spirit and we have to keep building on that.
The result puts them back in the play-off places, as they advance to fifth in the Championship
‘You can look both ways at the table because there is not much there. You have to see it in a positive way but there is no point looking at the league just yet, nothing has finished. Now it seems like it is compacted even more, we see that as an opportunity.’
Boro controlled the game but had to wait until the 57th minute for the opener when the unmarked Crooks headed in Jonny Howson’s cross. Two minutes later the midfielder made it
