IT was the story of four passes. One an early mistake, one a game-changer and two that ensured Middlesbrough ultimately recovered from a nightmare start to get off the mark for the season and book their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Michael Carrick’s side gave Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield second string a one-goal headstart after Rav van den Berg’s sloppy early mistake gifted the hosts an opener.

But the young defender and Boro recovered well and after a sublime Hayden Hackney pass led to an early Huddersfield red card that swung the game in the away side’s favour, Dan Barlaser picked the Town lock with two fine assists, the first for Sammy Silvera’s first half opener and the second for Isaiah Jones to strike shortly after the hour mark.

It was Jones’ first Boro goal since November 2022 and the winger should take confidence from a bright display down the right. It was the 24-year-old who got the wrong side of Jaheim Headley and ended the left-back’s night after just 12 minutes when referee Oliver Langford had no choice but to make the game-changing red card call.

From that moment on, despite the fact Boro trailed at the time, Carrick’s side looked to be the only winners. The victory was wrapped up by substitute Riley McGree late on before a last gasp Huddersfield consolation. Town put up a fight but the best team won.

The Carabao Cup is clearly not the priority on Teesside this season but Carrick’s said he was “desperate” to progress and will hope this acts as something of a springboard ahead of Saturday’s trip to Coventry City.

Carrick made five changes, bringing in Tom Glover, van den Berg, Jones, Martin Payero and Silvera. Warnock made twice as many alterations to his side after their opening day defeat to Plymouth but Huddersfield were gifted the perfect start.

Van den Berg was just four minutes into his first competitive outing for Carrick’s side when he made a mess of a pass in his own box, Ben Jackson pouncing on the loose ball and teeing up Kian Harratt who couldn’t miss.

Boro didn’t panic and took control after the red card. Headley was caught out by Hackney’s brilliant ball over the top and could have no complaints at the decision after pulling Jones down. Even Warnock appeared to take it in his stride.

Boro took charge and the inevitable equaliser came just nine minutes later. Barlaser followed Hackney’s lead by lofting a perfectly weighted pass into the channel, picking out Silvera on the left, whose low shot found the net after hitting both posts.

Huddersfield didn’t have much joy but had their moments thanks to the unpredictable Brahima Diarra, who had the beating of Coulson down the home side’s right flank. Boro’s left-back was lucky not to be booked for a foul on the winger late in the first half.

Most of the first period was played in Huddersfield’s half though. Come half-time, the possession stats were swayed 73% in Boro’s favour. So deep were Huddersfield that centre-half Darragh Lenihan was playing closer to the home goal than his own. And yet Carrick’s side had only managed one shot on target.

A second came six minutes into the second half when Rogers was denied by the knees of home keeper Maxwell after spinning his defender. Rogers had a volley charged down soon after and Payero poked an effort just wide – the goal was surely coming.

And so it proved. Just after the hour mark Barlaser again found the decisive pass, playing it into path of Jones inside the box, the winger keeping his cool to beat Maxwell.

Substitute McGree added a third eight minutes from time with a fine low finish, before Carrick introduced 16-year-old Finn Cartwright for his Boro debut. Huddersfield gave themselves brief hope when substitute Kyle Hudlin scored deep in stoppage but Boro saw it out.