Boro’s young guns are top of the table by merit and have an inner confidence that they will not lose football matches, according to boss Paul Jenkins.
The Under-21s rose soared to the summit of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division in dramatic fashion as two late goals helped them to a 2-1 win over Newcastle last night.
Trailing to a first-half strike by Geordie youngster Adam Campbell, Boro’s youngsters looked set to lose their first game since August - but late strikes from James Husband and Callum Cooke turned the game on its head.
Victory in the Tees-Tyne derby means Boro’s Under-21s are now on an eight-game unbeaten run - and are three points clear of rivals Arsenal in the league table.
The Teessiders head to North London on Friday for a top-of-the-table clash - and Jenkins admits the spirit within Boro's ranks is clear to see.
It’s going to be another immensely tough game on Friday but we’re top of the league on merit”, Jenkins said.
“We are top because of the quality that we’ve produced, certainly in the first few games. There is a great resilience in the team, a strong team spirit and a togetherness.
“This group of players have a confidence about them that they’re never going to lose football matches and even when we’ve gone behind we’ve just continued to keep going. The fitness levels have been really good.
“The boys are in a really good position at the moment and we’ve proved that sometimes we don’t play well but we come away with results.”
Boro were far from their best last night at Victoria Park, and Campbell’s first-half strike looked set to hand the Geordies the three points as the Teessiders toiled in front of goal.
Jenkins admitted he was disappointed with his side’s overall display - but believes the introduction of Callum Cooke on 65 minutes changed the game.
“I was disappointed really, I thought we started the game well with the wind in our faces, yet we had a good 15 minute spell where we had some good play and had opportunities. Then we got pegged back a little bit and found it difficult to get out of our half and Newcastle pressed us.
“We conceded a goal which took the wind out of our sails a bit, so coming in at half-time I just felt we had worked on training in moving the ball quickly and not dwelling on the ball, but we started doing things we hadn’t set out to do.
“In the second half we didn’t get on the front foot and didn’t get hold of the ball, but as the game wore on we started to play again and started to have some belief.
Graham Bell/MFC 
Paul Jenkins
“We had a couple of opportunities and we came alive with 30 minutes to go. We had the opportunity and a great delivery from Manu (Ledesma) put Husband in to score a header, and at that point if you’d asked me I’d be happy with a point.
“Then low and behold we get another opportunity and Callum Cooke did what he did last week (at Gateshead), came on and really changed the game for us. I thought he was really good and set the tempo for us, and again smashed one in the back of the net.
“Sometimes you see other managers being involved in stuff like that but yet you never think it’s going to be yourself involved in it. I’d have been quite happy to come away with a point after being behind for so long yet I was delighted we secured three points.
"It’s put us top of the league and three points clear going into Friday’s game against Arsenal.”
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