Carrick praises Akpom after breaking Middlesbrough's three decade long wait for 20-goal striker

Akpom got a double during the game against Reading at the Riverside. Credit: PA Images

Michael Carrick praised Middlesbrough history-maker Chuba Akpom after the striker ended a 33-year-wait for a 20-goal striker on Teesside.

Akpom became the first Boro striker to score 20 league goals in a season since Bernie Slaven in 1989-90 as he set Carrick's side on the road to a 5-0 dismantling of Reading at the Riverside Stadium with a first-half penalty.

The Sky Bet Championship's top scorer bagged a brace, taking his tally to the season for 21 - and sacrificed the opportunity to score a hat-trick when he allowed Marcus Forss to take a second Boro penalty and score their fifth of the afternoon.

Aston Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey also bagged a double for the hosts, who closed the gap to second-placed Sheffield United to four points after the Blades lost at Blackburn.

Aaron Ramsey celebrating after scoring the side's fourth goal against The Royals. Credit: PA Images

"It's a terrific achievement," said Carrick of Akpom hitting and then moving beyond the 20-goal mark.

"It's not easy to score that many goals. He's scored all different type of goals for us since I've been here. I thought his performance was fantastic.

"He gets credit for his goals but his performance all round was terrific. And because we have threats in different areas, he ends up getting a bit more space. To score that many goals, hopefully he can carry on and set a new target for himself."

Akpom set Boro on their way to a comfortable victory from the spot before Ramsey added a second in first-half stoppage time.

The first-half scorers both helped themselves to a second as Boro flew out of the blocks in the second half, before Akpom allowed Forss to take a penalty that the former Brentford striker had won.

Carrick said: "It's just being a team player, credit to him for that. Not many would have done that, but he understands it's about the squad, all the boys being in a good frame of mind.

"His first penalty was a good one and it would have been easy for him to grab it but he understands how grateful Marcus was to have a chance to score."

It is now seven league wins in a row for Boro at home, who bounced back after suffering defeat at West Brom last week.

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