Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says he is “delighted” with his side’s 2-1 victory against “a very good” Rovers team.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men went ahead through Ryan Hedges after just six minutes, but Marcus Forss got the visitors got back on level terms early in the second half.

John Buckley was then shown a bizarre red card for throwing the ball at the back of Riley McGree’s head, before the midfielder completed the comeback minutes later.

Carrick says Boro tweaked their shape at the break in an attempt to stop Rovers’ midfielders causing problems through the middle.

He told the club’s website: “I am delighted with the win. (They are) a very good team and can cause you a lot of problems with their frontline.

“They can play through the pitch really well and caused us a few issues first half, especially finding the two midfielders through the middle, which allowed them to stretch our backline and play longer balls in behind. We had to deal with that, which at times we did really well.

“I thought we played some really good stuff in possession and played through them. We created some half-opportunities that we probably should have done better with to create good chances, but there was a lot of good play really.

“We tweaked a little bit of our shape out of possession at half time just to try to stop them playing through the middle of us and try to get a bit more pressure on the ball.

“The goal straight after half time gave us a massive lift - great play from Crooksy (Matt Crooks) and Marcus. Then the sending off and the goal changes it a little bit, but we controlled it pretty well after that.

“I would have liked to have got the third goal to make it a little bit more comfortable, but nevertheless it is a terrific result for us.”

Rovers remain third in the Championship table but the gap to second-place Sheffield United is now 11 points after the Blades won at Blackpool.

Tomasson’s men are back in action on New Year’s Day when they welcome Cardiff City to Ewood Park (12pm).

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