Selfless Sene's winning mentality means the team always comes first

KALY Sene insists he didn't think twice about being taken off at halftime at Preston North End, and insists motivation to help the team was the only incentive needed a week later against West Brom.

- By CRAIG JOHNS [e-mail] @craig_johns

Rob Edwards is making a habit of impactful halftime substitutions in his time as Boro manager so far, with Kaly Sene the man to face the axe at the interval at Deepdale recently.

Boro improved off the back of the change to come from behind twice and take a point from a tough away game.

Being taken off at halftime can often be seen as a sour point in comparison to later in the game, but the Boro boss has been keen to stress that he sees it as no different to coming off on 60 minutes, for example.

He's stressed that point to his players and it appears to be getting across, with Sene blase about the fact that he then came on at halftime a week later against West Brom and bagged his first goal for Boro to help seal three points.

Asked if it was in any way motivated by Preston, Sene said: "When I come on to the pitch, whether I have started or not started, for me it is the same. Even if I just play five or ten minutes, then when I come on, I will try to give my best. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

"The coach will make the decision and I will respect that decision every time. The coach is just trying to do his job and do the best for the team.

"When I am on the bench, I will be ready to come onto the pitch and try to do like I did against West Brom. I was happy [to score], but I was more happy because we won the game. Every time for me, the win is more important than a goal.