Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was full of praise for his side’s character and ability to adapt in the 0-0 draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Boro were forced to defend for long spells as the Hatters created – and wasted – numerous chances.
“We had a new back four with players playing out of position so we knew it would be a challenge and it proved to be like that,” Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. “Sometimes you earn your luck and everyone was fully committed and we needed Trav [Goalkeeper Mark Travers] at times. He made some good saves.
“It wasn’t a classic terms of quality of football. We knew that coming here there would be moments we had to defend. We spoke about that before the game. We knew we had to adapt.
“They pitch was difficult to pass the ball on; it was as bobbly as you could get and everything that didn’t really suit us. It was a challenge to play good football.
“I was really pleased with the boys and how we stuck at it and we could have nicked one at the end.
“It’s an important point and there are a lot of positives to take from that even though it wasn’t a classic on the eye. We knew we would have to defend and we were ready for it.”
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