Boro are on 50 points with 10 games to play meaning they’re likely to have to win at least six of their remaining fixtures if they’re to secure a play-off place.
For a side that has only won successive games on three occasions this season and only once picked up three victories on the bounce, that feels like a big ask. But Carrick insists it’s doable.
“Consistency has been (a problem) but we can do that, yeah, without a shadow of a doubt,” said Boro’s boss ahead of tonight’s game against QPR at the Riverside.
“I fully believe we can do that. Words are words but I genuinely believe that. But we have to go and do it.”
Asked why he thinks Boro have been so inconsistent this season, he said: “It can be many things that lead to that.
“In terms of assessing the season right now, we’re in the thick of it and have a big week.
“We have to learn from what we can that will help us in the games coming.”
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In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Swansea, Carrick said there were “things to address”, but he didn’t want to expand on that comment and go into any detail about what he felt went wrong.
“That’s for me and the players to dissect and understand and keep that between us,” he said on Monday.
“There are things we weren’t happy about. But again the positive is I thought we finished the game particularly well and looked like we should have got something from the game.
“To feel like we underperformed and still feel like we should have got something shows when we’re decent or half decent we still have a hell of a chance of winning games.
“And we have to give ourselves a better chance than we did on Saturday.”
Carrick was critical of Saturday’s performance immediately after the game, but said on Monday: “I never blamed the players. The performance, that wasn’t us. That’s pretty obvious. I don’t need to go into any more detail.
“We were disappointed but have a chance to get back on the right track.”
Boro are five points adrift of the play-off places ahead of tonight’s game, but with West Brom travelling to Burnley and Bristol City away at Sheffield United, they could well close that gap if they can beat QPR.
Asked whether a top six finish is still realistic, Carrick said: “Yeah, of course. It’s very realistic. It’s very tight and very realistic. It’s up to us to do enough to get there and other teams have to drop points but it’s definitely realistic.”
