TWO words that Michael Carrick stresses to his players at every opportunity will be crucial in the promotion run-in for Middlesbrough - on the stands as well as on the pitch.

Trust and belief.

The importance of having faith in the system and approach is a recurring theme of Carrick's team-talks. When things are going well and Boro are winning, it's easy to stick to the plan and the principles. But in testing games and when the pressure is on and Boro need to cope with the weight of expectation, it's not as simple.

But that, says Carrick, is when his players need to be courageous. To have trust and belief.

And it's the same in the stands. With Boro not quite at their best against Stoke in what was a hugely important game in the promotion run-in, the Riverside was slightly - and understandably - edgy at times.

Carrick understands the anxiety but wants supporters to stay calm and, as he stresses to his players, to have faith in Boro's patient possession-based approach.

With five of Boro's remaining nine games to be played at the Riverside - starting with the visit of Preston on Saturday - Carrick has outlined the importance of the fans.

"Supporters have a big part to play, in some ways as big as us as a group of players" said the head coach.

"It's the atmosphere and energy that's created. It goes two ways. You feed off it and thrive off it and if we're playing well and scoring goals they thrive off it.

"It's that understanding that the boys are trying. Sometimes things will come off, sometimes they won't. When they do, it looks great, the boys get pats on the back, so we keep trying it even if it's not really clicking in top gear at that moment in time.

"We've got principles we stick to and we believe over time we'll improve and we'll have more success in them small details than we would if we tried something else, because that's what we believe in, that's the group of players and most of our good players come consistent playing a certain way, so we'll stick with that.

"Some will see it as tough moments, some will see it as more pressurised moments, but for us it's just another moment and we just have to be calm.

"Trust and belief is what I say to the players a lot. That's tested when it maybe doesn't come as easy. That's the trust and belief that's between me and the players. There's the relationship with the players and supporters as well.

"They've been incredible since I came in, the numbers, support, noise, travelling. We're going on a journey and the bond is really strong. They don't need me to tell them their support is really strong and has a massive impact and a huge, huge help. When it does get a bit so-so, that's when you need them even more."

With so much up for grabs in the run-in, there's going to be a sense of occasion with every one of Boro's remaining nine games. With that comes pressure. But in crucial moments in big games, Carrick takes great satisfaction in seeing his players stick their chest out, want to get on the ball and play the way he wants.

"It's brilliant isn't it when you see it, I love seeing it," he said.

"That sets you up as a player, to be able to say this is me, this is what I do, irrespective of what other people might see as a dangerous situation or pressurised situation, that's what I do and believe in it. Especially the younger players, going and trusting what they do and what they're good at.

"I love to see that. It's easy to do it when it's going well. It's when it's a bit tougher when you're playing against a tough opponent and you're being tested, can you still do it? I love seeing the boys take on that challenge. They've done it ever so well and I'll continue to back them 100%."

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Carrick knows that with victories comes expectation, but the fact Boro have been on such an impressive run in recent months doesn't mean they'll ease through every challenge and opponent.

He said: “I think it’s just that the boys have been playing particularly well for a period of time now and have been winning games.

"It’s just a case of not taking it for granted really. I include everyone in that - us as a group of players and staff and fans.

"It’s great to be in a position where we know we have that firepower to play in the manner we have, but at the same time, there are two teams and it’s not as straightforward as that. So we just need to be calm about it, it’s no drama and we’ll take each game as it comes."