Reporter baffled by ‘strange’ chant sung by Middlesbrough fans about Leeds and Michael Carrick

A reporter was left baffled by a ‘strange’ chant sung by Middlesbrough fans about Leeds and Michael Carrick during Tuesday’s game.

Wilfried Gnonto’s fourth goal of the season saw Leeds go ahead on 14 minutes, with Max Wober’s own goal cancelling that out on 54 minutes.

Dan James marked his 100th Leeds appearance by putting Leeds back in front on 74 minutes, before Brenden Aaronson added Leeds’ a third in stoppage time.

Much of the 2,888 Middlesbrough fans in the away end were heard singing a chant, which got TEAMtalk reporter James Marshment tweeting: “Michael Carrick, he’s won more than you” resonated from the away section.

“Curious individuals, the Boro fans, considering he has won exactly ZERO of those trophies with their club.”

But there are claims that Leeds fans however were chanting abuse directed at Michael Carrick, with Boro fans responded by pointing out that Carrick has won more trophies in his career than Leeds United as a club.

“Michael Carrick, he’s won more than you” belting out the away end.
Strange folk the Boro lot since he won precisely ZERO of those trophies with them.

— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) December 10, 2024

Leeds are top of the Championship table, with 41 points from 20 games played, and two points clear at the top, by 2nd place Sheffield United play 13th place Millwall on Wednesday.

Middlesbrough however are 6th with 31 points from 20 games. Boro however slip to a 7th league defeat of the season and are 8 points adrift of the top two.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:

“I think it was a well deserved win, in the end. But I want to congratulate Middlesbrough on a really good away performance.

“They were positive and that makes our win a bit sweeter because we played against an excellent side.

“It was a really good first half, but the feeling in such a tight game was that we wasted too many chances.

“After such an unlikely equaliser, it is difficult to turn the tide again but that is what we did and many compliments to the players.”

Farke, per Sky Sports: “What he [James] has done for us as a club is excellent. He’s a top-class human being.

“We’re all happy that we have him and rightly so, on such a special day for him, he delivered such a good performance.

“He’s a key player for us. He’s so important. Especially since I’ve been his manager, he’s always chipped in with end products, his goals and assists.

“He’s important for our pressing, he’s important for counter-attacks and sometimes he also drives the game forward.

“He chips in at decisive moments with crucial goals, quite often the first goal or to make it 2-1 – the decisive ones.

“I want to say congratulations to Middlesbrough for a really good away performance.

“That makes our win even sweeter because I think we’ve played against an excellent side and we deserved to win this game.”

Leeds captain Pascal Struijk speaking to BBC Radio Leeds:

“Today was really important that we set the tone from the first minute.

“In the second half they sat back and they came back into but we showed our character.

“They are a quality side and they will have spells but it’s up to up to catch them on the break.

“From the first minute the fans were trying to help, the support we have here is here and it’s a big reason why we’re doing so well this season.

“I’m trying to help the team as much as we can but it’s a team game.”

Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick per Sky Sports: “Disappointed with the result, yes. I thought the game was right in the balance really, second half.

“In some ways it was where we wanted it. We had a really good spell and looked like, and felt like to be honest, that we could go on and win the game.