As long as Middlesbrough defeats Plymouth Argyle on Good Friday, Michael Carrick has maintained that the team’s hopes of promotion are still alive.

Boro’s chances of pushing their way into the play-off spots were severely damaged over the weekend as they lost 1-0 at Millwall.

Although they are still within two points of the top six, Michael Carrick’s team dropped to eighth position in the standings after the loss at the Den. If Coventry City wins their game in hand against Hull City this evening, the difference will widen to four points.

Regardless of what transpires on Humberside, Boro will most likely need to win all three points at the Riverside on Friday when they play a Plymouth team that significantly increased their chances of avoiding relegation on Saturday by rallying from behind to defeat promotion-chasing Sheffield United.

On Easter Monday, Boro will travel to Sheffield Wednesday, but for now, Carrick is only concerned with getting back to winning ways against Plymouth. He is certain that his team’s playoff push will resume if they can accomplish it.

“At this time of the season, literally anything can happen,” said the Boro boss. “It can twist so quickly, so it’s still all on.

“It’s still all to play for, but winning games is what matters in the end and we need to do that quickly. If we can do that, then we’ll still have a chance. But we’ve got to win games.”

Lukas Jensen was only really put into action in stoppage time when he made a save against Marcus Forss, as Carrick’s team was unable to pose a genuine danger to the Millwall goal over the weekend.

On Friday, there must be a significant improvement since, in all likelihood, a loss would mean the club’s chances of promotion are over.

“We’ve got to bounce back,” admitted Carrick. “There will definitely be a reaction from the boys. We’ve got to make sure it’s enough to win the game on Friday.

“It’s at that stage where every game and every result matters now. It can all turn quickly, but certainty we need to get back to winning quickly.

“We’re bitterly disappointed (at the Millwall defeat) – more than disappointed – because at this stage of the season we want to come into these games and pick up points.

“We all understand how important it is. The only way now is to get on with it for Friday. The season is still on. We’ve got to win enough games and pick up enough points to give ourselves a chance. We’ve still got a chance, we’re still in and around it.”

After losing three straight games, Boro fell outside the play-off spots last season. However, they ended the season with back-to-back wins over Cardiff and Watford.

Carrick agrees that there will probably be a lot of twists and turns during the next three weeks, but he still wants to prevent a repeat.

“We all know how quickly the Championship can change,” he said. “We’ve all been around it enough. It happens at both ends of the table. It is what it is. That’s what offers us belief and hope and encouragement.

“Anything can happen. It’s up to us though. We’ve got to pick up points and hope results elsewhere go our way. We’ll see. The important thing is that we bounce back quickly and are alive come Friday and ready for that challenge.”