Boro drew their final friendly game of the season against top flight French side St-Etienne. A Lewis Wing free kick saw us hit back quickly from a dubious penalty. There was an impressive debut from new signing Marcus Browne and plenty of positive signs as we build up to Friday's big kick off away at Luton.

It was quite a turn around then from that big 5-1 defeat away in Germany at Heidenheim. Woodgate's Boro have come together far more over the past few days and the transfer policy has certainly helped the cause as the new Head Coach builds his own style as well as team.

One player that has impressed throughout the summer is Hayden Coulson who once more made his mark on this game with his adventurous, attacking style as left back. With captain George Friend looking likely to miss the season opener Hayden could find himself making his Boro League debut at Kenilworth Road. It will be very much deserved as he has pushed through in a manner reminiscent to Lewis Wing last season. Coulson will have to hold off the challenge of new left back signing Marc Bola. The 21 year old former Arsenal academy graduate was signed from Blackpool over the weekend.

Back to Lewis Wing his free kick goal is another notch on his road of development. He will be a key creative force for Boro over the months ahead. Though we will need to be more ruthless when we get on the end of his passing play. Where we were clinical at Salford, we were more wasteful against St-Etienne. There was of course a step up in the level of defenders pitted against us. But no hat tricks for Britt this weekend.

With Darren Randolph still injured either second half sub Aynsley Pears or the returning Tomas Mejias could be called upon at Luton. Hopefully Randolph is fit to start and also we resist any attempts to coax his signature to a deal away from Boro. But both Mejias and Pears look to have the attributes to step up for the one match if called on.

But plenty of reasons for Boro fans to be cheerful as the team sets off a new road towards an attacking, pressing style of play. The signing of young players of potential is bound to capture the imagination of everyone. Every bit as much as the rewards that are being dangled in front of our own academy players. Work hard, catch the eye and you could advance into the first team picture.

All eyes now are on that big kick off away at Luton Town on Friday. Come on Boro.



