MICHAEL Carrick certainly knows how to handle a half-time team talk.

For the second time in five days, his Middlesbrough side raced out of the blocks after the restart and scored a quick-fire double, setting them on their way as they extended their quite incredible run.

On Thursday, they came from behind at Blackburn to win, at Birmingham a brace from Matt Crooks and a 13th goal of the season for Chuba Akpom added three more points to their tally, meaning Boro have now won six of their last seven games to climb to fifth in the Championship table. A reminder that they were fourth from bottom when Carrick took charge just over two months ago.

READ MORE: Recap Boro's win at Birmingham as it happened

Carrick had told his players to ignore Birmingham’s league position and their two recent defeats, warning that Boro faced one of the toughest tests of his tenure so far at St Andrew’s.

But he then watched on as the side transformed on his watch passed yet another test with flying colours, with the head coach again playing a starring role. After an uninspiring first half, Carrick could have turned to his bench but, just as he did at Blackburn, Carrick trusted the system and those on the pitch. And within 15 minutes of the restart, Boro were 2-0 up.

They had to dig deep as Birmingham refused to roll over and halved the deficit, but the league’s top scorer Akpom struck late on to secure the points.

Carrick stuck with the side that started at Blackburn, which meant Crooks up-top and Marcus Forss out on the right flank, and Boro were the better team in an uneventful first half without really looking like scoring. They dominated the ball with 69% of first half possession but were unable to turn that into clear-cut openings

Birmingham, though, looked like a team that had fired successive blanks and at the back Boro were comfortable, the hosts not managing a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Boro were again backed by another sell-out away following, and the travelling Teessiders made their feelings known for a home player, George Friend’s name chanted by those in red in the stands when he was introduced 10 minutes before the break, replacing the injured Marc Roberts.

It was another ex-Boro player who came closest for Birmingham in the first half. Desperate to impress making just his third league start of the season, Lukas Jutkiewicz wasn’t far away from scoring a stunner against his former club when he received a bouncing ball with his back to goal, swivelled and hit a dipping strike just over.

If Birmingham had done their homework and watched Boro’s win at Blackburn then they’ll known what was coming, and Carrick’s side quickly shifted through the gears after the break.

Within five minutes of the restart, Boro created their first clear cut chance, Forss beating the offside trap but superbly denied by Ruddy, who made himself big.

Birmingham responded by creating their first big chance, unmarked Krystian Bielik heading wide from a corner. He really should have at least hit the target. And the hosts were made to pay as Boro struck twice in two minutes to take complete control.

First, Crooks guided a header beyond Ruddy after being picked out by a superb Howson cross from the right. And with the hosts reeling, Crooks struck again, pouncing on a Friend mistake and keeping his calm to slot home.

Boro were made to work for the points. Birmingham gave the home fans hope when ex-Manchester United youngster Tahith Chong headed home from close range on 74 minutes. But as Birmingham pushed for a leveller, Boro broke and Crooks found Akpom who rounded the keeper and wrapped up the points in fine fashion.