Boro's young guns went joint top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League after a Charlie Wyke penalty was enough to see off a resilient Derby County.
The forward, who spent three months on loan at Hartlepool United earlier this season, scored the only goal at Victoria Park to put the Teessiders level on points with Newcastle at the summit.
Jenkins made four changes to the side that lost to Stoke last week with Bradley Halliday making his Boro return after a loan spell with York City, while David Atkinson, Lewis Maloney and Ryan Brobbel all came in.
Boro conceded three goals inside the first 20 minutes of last week’s cup defeat, but it was a much tighter opening period this time with two of the division’s heavyweights locking horns.
The hosts carved out the first chance on 11 minutes when Wyke’s blocked header fell to Brobbel in the box, but the winger scuffed his shot wide.
On 20 minutes lively winger Shaquille McDonald forced Connor Ripley into his first save of the match, cutting in from the right and firing a shot straight at the Boro stopper.
At the other end Boro should have taken the lead on 25 minutes when Jordan Jones surged down the left and pulled the ball back for Bryn Morris, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide.
Derby should have taken the lead just before the break when Alban Bunjaku fed Mason Bennett, but the Rams’ striker shot wide from six yards out.
The second half started in the same fashion with both teams struggling to find the killer pass.
Boro came close on the counter attack on 51 minutes as Brobbel found Wyke, but the forward’s left-footed shot crept inches wide of Kelle Roos’ goal.
Moments later Derby again threatened with Bennett the architect, twisting and turning before Bunjaku volleyed his cross high and wide.
With both sides eyeing the three points, it was Boro who came close on the hour mark when Jones combined with Morris but saw his angled shot saved.
Then Brobbel found Mark Kitching down the right flank, but his delivery to the onrushing Wyke was behind the front man and another chance went begging.
However, Boro’s patience was rewarded when they were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes after Jones was hauled to the floor, with Wyke coolly converting from 12 yards.
Halliday almost doubled Boro’s advantage, but at the other end Derby substitute Offrande Zanzala fired over from two yards out.
And Boro deservedly held on to claim the three points.
BORO: Ripley, B Halliday, Atkinson (Weledji 68), Burn (c), Bennett, Jones, Morris, Maloney (Tinkler 64) , Brobbel, Kitching, Wyke. Subs not used: Coddington, Cooke, Fewster.
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