Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom has scored 13 goals in 15 games under Michael Carrick
The Championship's top scorer Chuba Akpom added two more to his tally as Middlesbrough comfortably saw off struggling Blackpool.
Akpom scored one in each half to take his league tally to 16 and Paddy McNair added another as Boro stay third in the table.
Michael Carrick's men are now 10 points behind second-placed Sheffield United thanks to a ninth win in 11 games.
The Seasiders - who had Mick McCarthy in charge of his first Championship game - stay in the relegation zone, three points from safety, as their winless run reached 11 games.
This is the sixth club McCarthy has managed at this level, more than 30 years after his first one - and the contrast with rookie Carrick was stark.
Victory at Bloomfield Road in November in only Carrick's fourth game in charge saw Boro leapfrog their opponents, and they have been flying up the Championship ever since.
That momentum showed as they were the more likely to score from the off, with Darragh Lenihan heading against the post and Riley McGree being denied by visiting goalkeeper Chris Maxwell on his 100th Blackpool appearance.
But Maxwell could do nothing about Akpom's opener as the striker clipped the ball over the goalkeeper and in at the far post for his 12th goal in 15 games since Carrick's arrival on Teesside.
Jerry Yates had the ball in the net just after half-time but he was flagged offside and, not long after, Akpom had his second, finishing off after a fine pass from Riley McGree.
There was then time for McNair to add more gloss to the scoreline, prodding in at the back post after fellow centre-half Lenihan had flicked on.
It wrapped up a fifth straight win at the Riverside, where Boro have not lost under Carrick.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Steffen14Smith17McNair26Lenihan3Giles16Howson30Hackney21Forss29Akpom8McGree10Archer
- 1Steffen14Smith17McNair26Lenihan3GilesSubstituted forBolaat 83'minutes16HowsonSubstituted forMowattat 84'minutes30HackneyBooked at 7minsSubstituted forBarlaserat 63'minutes21ForssSubstituted forJonesat 76'minutes29Akpom8McGree10Archer
Substitutes
- 2Jones4Mowatt6Fry7Barlaser23Roberts25Crooks27Bola
Blackpool
Formation 5-3-2
1Maxwell24Lyons2Connolly27Goode31Nelson22Hamilton11Bowler46Trybull28Patino19Lavery9Yates
- 1Maxwell24Lyons2Connolly27Goode31Nelson22Hamilton11BowlerSubstituted forRogersat 71'minutes46TrybullSubstituted forMadineat 71'minutesBooked at 79mins28PatinoSubstituted forDougallat 60'minutes19LaverySubstituted forCareyat 60'minutes9YatesBooked at 26minsSubstituted forPoveda-Ocampoat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Dougall14Madine16Carey25Rogers26Poveda-Ocampo32Grimshaw34Thorniley
Referee:Tim RobinsonAttendance:26,299Match StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBlackpoolPossessionHome77%Away23%ShotsHome13Away13Shots on TargetHome6Away1CornersHome9Away7FoulsHome14Away12Live Text Post update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 3, Blackpool 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Blackpool 0.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Blackpool) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Alex Mowatt (Middlesbrough).
90'+3'Post update
Morgan Rogers (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Gary Madine tries a through ball, but Ian Poveda-Ocampo is caught offside.
89'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Charlie Goode.
88'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Callum Connolly.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
87'Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Ian Poveda-Ocampo tries a through ball, but Gary Madine is caught offside.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Mowatt.
85'Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Darragh Lenihan.
85'Post update
Attempt blocked. Curtis Nelson (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gary Madine.
85'Post update
Attempt blocked. Gary Madine (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Curtis Nelson.
85'Post update
Foul by Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough).
85'Post update
Charlie Goode (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
84'Post update
Attempt saved. Gary Madine (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Morgan Rogers with a cross.
84'Post update
Attempt blocked. Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser with a cross.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Mowatt replaces Jonny Howson.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marc Bola replaces Ryan Giles.
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Source: bbc.com