WHILE the league table is the obvious evidence of Middlesbrough's progression under Michael Carrick, there is another indicator as to just how much his side have achieved in a relatively short space of time - and the excitement at what could be in store in the remaining months of the season.

A crowd of 26,299 watched on at the Riverside on Saturday as Boro comfortably saw off the challenge of struggling Blackpool.

Boro have only had three higher attendances this season, those being the first game of the season, the visit of Sunderland and Boxing Day - all special occasions that would attract a bumper crowd regardless of how the side are faring on the pitch.

The visit of Blackpool, on the other hand, was a regular Championship fixture, but as Carrick admitted after watching his side beat the Seasiders 3-0 for the second time this season, there is a "special" feeling in the Riverside right now.

It's no surprise. Saturday's success was Boro's fifth successive home win and their third clean sheet on the bounce. Bristol City are the only side to take points off Boro at the Riverside since Carrick's appointment.

"We love playing here," said the head coach.

"The support we're getting is pretty special. The boys are feeding off it, that connection with the fans. I've said it since day one, it's up to us to give the fans something to shout about and energise them, and when we need them it's roles reversed.

"Today was great, to have so many in the stadium and the atmosphere like it was.

"It’s pretty special and we need to build on that as the season goes on. It’s a snowball effect if you like, for both of us. It might not always go to plan, but we know that the support is there for us, as they’ve proven in the couple of little sticky patches we’ve had over the last three months. That’s powerful for the players to feel the confidence and energy inside the stadium."

Carrick is remarkably understated and won't for one minute let his players get carried away, despite their transformation, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want the fans to dream about what's possible for his side.

"Of course you can feel the belief," he says,

"It's up to us to not get too carried away, but the supporters come to dream and enjoy it and be entertained and so they should, that's why we love football. It's up to us to try and repay them with some success."

So far, so good. With Sheffield United only managing a draw at Rotherham on Saturday, Boro closed the gap on second place to 10 points. You can imagine Carrick's response when that was put to him post-match and while the Blades, with a game in hand, do indeed still have a comfortable buffer, a Boro win at Bramall Lane next week would start to make things interesting.

"The main thing is to keep winning games and you never know," said Paddy McNair after Saturday's win.

It was McNair who wrapped things up for Boro against Blackpool, on hand at the back post to score his first of the season and the home side's third of the afternoon after Darragh Lenihan's knockdown from a Ryan Giles corner.

The goal rounded off a superb display from McNair, who justified Carrick's call to keep him in the team despite the availability of Dael Fry.

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This was the type of no-fuss home win that teams at the top need. Boro are now dealing with the weight of expectation that comes with their form and league position and Blackpool presented an all together and, in some ways, more difficult challenge than promotion rivals Watford seven days previous.

The Seasiders set out to frustrate and breaking down stubborn and organised sides is no simple task. But it's always easier when you have a player with the confidence of Chuba Akpom in your ranks. His 15th goal of the season to break the deadlock was a moment of pure class, audaciously finding the top corner, the ball kissing the post on its way into the net.

If his first was a moment of individual brilliance, his second was a fine team move that delighted Carrick. Boro worked it from back to front, with McGree playing it into the path of the Championship's top scorer, who did the rest.

Blackpool, to their credit, stuck at it, and at 1-0 had a glorious chance to level when the unmarked Jerry Yates saw his free header crash back off the crossbar. But McCarthy, who looks to have a real battle on his hands to keep the Seasiders afloat, had no complaints with the outcome.

It's remarkable to think Boro were below Blackpool in the table before these sides met at Bloomfield Road in November.

After two away games in the next 10 days for Boro, QPR are the next visitors to the Riverside. Neil Critchley's side won't be looking forward to that; the home fans certainly will be.