Boos had also rang around the Riverside Stadium 17 minutes earlier as Boro’s players headed for the tunnel a goal down to Oxford United, who have still not won at the Riverside.
Things, it seemed, were still not rosy on Teesside. Middlesbrough’s hopes for a top-six spot were, again, in serious jeopardy.
But then, having fallen behind to Michal Helik’s strike with seven minutes remaining in the first half, Middlesbrough had lift-off.
Iheanacho, who had hit the deck devastated after crashing a finish against the crossbar seconds before the break, powered in Samuel Iling-Junior’s low delivery and things were about to take a turn for the better.
Where that will leave Middlesbrough in seven games’ time remains to be seen, but former Leicester City striker Iheanacho has his first goal for the club (his only league goal since November 2023) and that can only boost the Teessiders’ cause.
Carrick said: “I can understand the frustrations (after the boos). The players get frustrated, I get frustrated. It’s how we deal with that really.
“If anything, they’re the times when we’ve got to be positive and look after each other. It’s easy when you’re winning and everyone can celebrate, but it’s when you have a sticky patch that you need to stick together.
“That’s for everyone, the supporters as well. We might have that at times throughout the next seven games and we can get through that together. The lads need even more support if anything.
“In the end, we got the support, we got the result, and everyone goes home happy.”
Iheanacho, a regular scorer at Leicester as Jamie Vardy’s understudy, had struggled at Sevilla following his move to Spain. Even though he scored a couple of times in the Copa del Rey, his powerful finish against Oxford brought an end to a 525-day wait without a league goal.
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Carrick, who knows the Nigerian has struggled for form and fitness since his arrival on loan from Spain, said: “Strikers love scoring goals and feed off doing that.
“I think this game, in particular, after being away with internationals, we just needed to find a way to win. I think we deserved it in the end, certainly in the way we played the second half, and certainly for Kel, that will hopefully help him no end.
“He is happy. Kel knows it. He has played at a level, and goals make you feel a bit better, naturally.
“I wasn’t concerned, I knew he would score and hopefully he has got more in him, I am sure he has. It was a massive goal for us.
“He was in a great position to score and it just shows you how things can change. You have to manage it.”
Iheanacho’s equaliser shortly after half-time was the perfect fillip for Boro after a frustrating opening period.
Not only had Helik put Oxford ahead, the U’s, who have only one of their last 11 matches, should have scored sooner.
Przcmyscaw Placheta saw a first-time effort turned behind by goalkeeper Mark Travers before Matty Phillips somehow side-footed Siriki Dembele’s corner wide from close-range when it looked easier to score.
But after Iheanacho levelled things up, the stage was set for defender Neto Borges to score his first for the club and his first in two years with ten minutes remaining.
The Brazilian brilliantly flicked another Iling-Junior cross, after he had linked superbly with Aidan Morris, to seal three points and he celebrated with the fans at the final whistle.
Middlesbrough are suddenly level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion and two behind Coventry sitting above, having recovered from a run of seven defeats from eight games by losing just one of their last six matches and winning four.
Carrick, who deserves credit for fielding Borges and Jonny Howson at the heart of the defence during an injury crisis, said: “Everyone is delighted for Neto, you could really feel the energy in the dressing room.
“The supporters were delighted for him, the players were and certainly I am.
“He’s really stepped up even more in the last few weeks. You can really see those leadership qualities he has.
“He’s got the character and presence to face up to the challenges that have come his way. And then that’s a hell of a finish as well, by the way. It was a really good goal and a really important one as well. He deserves that moment.”