Michael Carrick is seeing the progression he ultimately wants from his Middlesbrough side as their building continues after a poor start to the season.

Boro were winless in their opening seven league games, which stretched back to early September. It was not the start that was expected by most, with Carrick's side tipped to be promotion challengers before a ball had been kicked. Carrick, however, always felt it would be a season of progression, in which he hoped to see his side build as it went on given the scale of the changes to the squad over the summer.

Having headed into the last international break on the back of five straight wins in all competitions, Boro got their season up and running. And they've ultimately built on that throughout their latest batch of games - six in total between last month's break and the current one - which yielded another four wins and just one defeat.

Asked to sum up the last month, Carrick said: "I think there has been a lot of good. We can't expect to win every game. The Stoke game we were off it and we knew that at the time. The boys held their hands off and it just wasn't quite enough from us.

"Going to Exeter and winning was a big win and getting some players some important minutes while progressing in the cup was pleasing. We've had a mixed bag. Last week we were disappointed with the draw but happy with the performance, and then today [Leicester] we got the reward for the effort all week.

"There has been a little bit of everything really, but all in all, we're pretty pleased. As the season goes, we're building and building and we just have to keep pushing."

When Boro return to action a week on Saturday they travel to Bristol City for the first of ten remaining games in the calendar year, spread over just five weeks. It's a busy period and one in which Boro could really cement their place as top-six contenders as well as book their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final if they can continue in similar form to recently.