Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick hopes the point from the goalless draw at struggling Luton proves to be an important one in his side’s battle to make the Championship play-offs.
Having been under the cosh in the first half, with the Hatters wasting three glaring chances, the visitors came into the game after the break and might have snatched a late winner.
The draw left Boro three points adrift of the top six and Carrick said: “The biggest thing I can say is that hopefully it will prove to be an important point at the end of the season.
“It was a good point in the circumstances. Coming here with the type of game it was going to be, conditions and the pitch, it was just different types of challenges.
“It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t a classic, but there were good things in the game.
“A new back four, to deal with that in the extremity of the way the games goes and direct play, long balls, I thought once we settled into it we dealt with it well.
“”I’m pleased with the attitude and the mentality and the way we had to adapt in the game.
“We thought we could be a little bit more effective going forwards if I’m honest.
“It was difficult, the pitch was so dry and bobbly, so to create in the way we like creating was challenging. I thought we might have nicked it towards the end but we’ll take the point.”
During the opening 45 minutes, Thelo Aasgaard fluffed his lines from close range, skying over the bar, and he also put another volley straight at visiting keeper Mark Travers, who kept out Elijah Adebayo’s one-on-one chance and Liam Walsh’s attempt.
Walsh dragged another opportunity wide, with the busy Travers saving well from Carlton Morris in a first half that Luton were utterly dominant.
It became more even in the second period, Finn Azaz inches wide on the hour mark for Boro, while Luton threatened more through set-pieces, with Mark McGuinness off target on 72 minutes.
Hatters substitute Lasse Nordas stabbed wide via a deflection late on as Town remain deep in relegation trouble.
Boss Matt Bloomfield said: “I was really proud of the performance.
“I thought some of the football we played, the chance creation, we put pressure on our opposition, top opposition as well for the league, I thought the boys were excellent, especially in the first half.
“It was never going to be easy to replicate that in the second half because of how dominant we were but I feel incredibly disappointed I’m not sat here with three points now.
“We created numerous opportunities to win the game, on another day we probably take two, three or four of them, they were that good.
“Some of the football we played, the way tactically we had spoken about how to break our opposition down, the boys implemented it and I’m so proud of the way they are going about their work at the moment.
“We’re playing against some real top teams and having a right go so to not take one of the chances is obviously incredibly disappointing.
“I have to go back to the positives of the performance defensively, another clean sheet, but I understand the situation.
“I’m a realist but I’m also incredibly proud of the performance the players put in today.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
