For all Michael Carrick enjoyed a lot of what he saw from his Middlesbrough side in the first half at Blackpool, it was something that he wasn't so keen on that he pointed out to his players during the interval, and helped to make sure Boro had "the edge" after the break.

Boro were superb at Bloomfield Road and continued the trend that is pleasing the boss of improving with every game under his watch.

It needs pointing out that Blackpool were poor, but that's not to take anything away from Boro, who were outstanding from minute one. Three-nil flattered the home side. In truth, Boro could have scored that many and more in the first half alone.

In an excellent opening period, Boro ripped into Blackpool from the get-go. Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney set the tempo, Isaiah Jones tied Dom Thompson in knots, Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss gave the centre-halves the run-around and Ryan Giles terrified the hosts with his teasing deliveries.

And while Carrick was thrilled with what he watched in the first 40 minutes of the first half, what he saw in the last five minutes before the break concerned him slightly.

"I didn't like the last five minutes of the first half and I spoke about that at half-time, accepting balls coming into the box and not stopping it from happening to start with," he said.

"And I thought we did that superbly in the second half. It was just that complacency really, getting too comfortable. We just needed that edge in the second half. We went out, got the second goal and built on it."

It was a passing comment from Carrick in his post-match interview but a glimpse at the high standards the boss is setting. And the emphasis placed on avoiding the complacency that comes with being too comfortable is an insight into why Boro's head coach enjoyed such a long and successful playing career at the very top of the game.

It wasn't that Carrick was being critical of his players, rather the head coach just wanted to make sure his side got what they deserved, unlike against Bristol City on Saturday. He didn't want all of Boro's fine first half work to be undone.

"When it's 1-0, we've seen it before, it only takes one slip and the game flips on its head," said Carrick.

"I couldn't fault the boys, it was just a case of let's get back to doing what we did well and not relaxing and getting too comfortable. Being too comfortable is a dangerous place to be. I thought we went out in the second half and from the first whistle took control, scored and as the game went on we got stronger."

Indeed. Boro made the second half look like a stroll. Marcus Forss got the goal his display deserved just three minutes into the second period to give the visitors breathing space and wrap up the points. Forss' performance against Bristol City on Saturday was his best for the club so far - until last night. He was tireless and tricky, applauded off by the away fans just after the hour mark.

The reception was even louder when he made way 10 minutes or so later, after scoring yet again. Four in four, five in six, he's now just one behind the Championship's top marksmen in the charts.

Carrick felt it was Akpom's most complete display since he took charge.

The head coach said: "He's going to get his plaudits for the goals, he's on a great run of scoring, but first half even without his goal he looked a real threat. His all-round play was very good. He's confident, playing well. I wouldn't say perfect because you never say perfect but it was a terrific all-round performance."

The same can be said for the team as a whole.