Tees

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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been named the EFL's Championship manager of the month for November.

The Blades were unbeaten last month, taking 16 points from their six matches and climbing to the top of the table.

It is the second time this season Wilder has won the award having also been named the division's top manager in September.

"This award is recognition for a lot of hard work from the players and the staff in the opening months of the season," Wilder told the EFL website., external

"The rebuild of the squad has been talked about numerous times, what needs to be taken into consideration is that this is a new group, providing a new dynamic, which includes the lads who were here last season. There's still a lot of work to do but the signs are good."

Sheffield United have taken four points from their opening two games of December and host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, Burnley's Scott Parker and outgoing Millwall head coach were also nominated for the award.

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Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris could be fit to play again before Christmas, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

The 23-year-old suffered a twisted knee while on international duty with the USA in mid-November.

Morris had played in every Championship game for Boro since joining from MLS side Columbus Crew in the summer but has missed the past five with injury.

"Aidan isn't training with the group just yet, but he's progressing well and could be available before Christmas," Carrick said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall.

After this weekend, Boro travel to Plymouth on 21 December before a run of four games in 10 days over a busy Christmas and New Year period.

Carrick said it will be a "tough game" at the Riverside against Millwall for what will be Lions' head coach Neil Harris' final match in charge.

"We obviously know it's his last game," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. "He's done a really good job and they'd been on a really good run.

"They'll be wanting to try and bounce back for their own season, so I fully expect a really challenging game - an intense game and we will have to be at our best to win."

You can listen to Michael Carrick's pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees

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Middlesbrough find themselves 10 points from the Championship promotion places today after Sheffield United's victory at Millwall.

Boro are also a point shy of the play-off places after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Leeds United.

That was a game that saw Boro draw level in the second half after a first half that captain Hayden Hackney admitted to BBC Radio Tees Sport largely passed them by.

They then contrived to lose two further goals through some sloppy play and returned to Teesside empty-handed.

Michael Carrick's verdict was largely positive, insisting his side had done a lot of good things and that he doesn't think they are far away.

Those comments belied his demeanour on the touchline, where he was a lot more demonstrative than usual and showed flashes of real frustration and anger at some of Boro's decision-making in their own half.

He was also furious that an off-the-ball foul on Emmanuel Latte Lath during a Boro break wasn't spotted by the officials.

Carrick's view of the game was in contrast to the majority of Boro fans, who felt their team hadn't performed anywhere near the level they're capable of.

Indeed, it was a performance that fell short of their showing at Burnley last Friday when they came away from Turf Moor with a point, having made the better chances in the game.

This weekend's game with Millwall is one Boro have to win to resume the momentum they had been building before going to Burnley and Leeds.

The play-offs are a must, but despite there being more than half the season left, the top two may be disappearing over the horizon.

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Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Middlesbrough were unable to capitalise on second-half momentum as they fell to a 3-1 defeat by Championship leaders Leeds United on Tuesday.

But for captain Hayden Hackney, the loss has not dented his confidence.

"We can compete with the highest teams," Hackney told BBC Radio Tees.

"Although the result hasn't gone for us, I think we've showed that if those chances do fall and we do put our chances away - especially in the second half - it could have been a different game."

Boro equalised early into the second half after Leeds defender Max Wober headed the ball into his own net from a Dan Barlaser corner.

The visitors then had the opportunity to go ahead through Liverpool loanee Ben Doak, but Leeds keeper Illan Meslier came off his line to smother the attack.

The home side soon took the lead themselves before sealing the win through Brenden Aaronson in injury time.

However, Hackney is not spending too much time rueing lost chances.

"We will take the positives from this. We will look at the game, see what we can do better and go again on Saturday," the midfielder added.

Middlesbrough host Millwall at the weekend (15:00 GMT).

You can listen to the full post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.