Pair grab their chance as Kim is true to his word

BIG CALLS FROM NEW MAN IN THE HOTSEAT

- By CRAIG JOHNS

A NEW head coach brings fresh opportunities for every player, and so proved the case on Saturday as Kim Hellberg took charge of his first Middlesbrough game.

The new Boro boss made some interesting decisions around certain individuals as his side came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Derby County. There were some clear and obvious winners from the day.

Alex Bangura was a surprise starter, with 22 months separating this and his last Boro start.

In a sign that Hellberg will be good to his word on rewarding impressive training performances, the 37-year-old was impressed by Bangura and threw him in, leading to a memorable day for the left-back.

He linked well with another winner of the day Sontje Hansen - with the pair causing Derby all sorts of problems down Boro’s left hand side.

For Hansen, he was back in the Boro starting lineup for the first time since early October, with this just his third since joining from NEC Nijmegen in the summer. He was rewarded after impressing in a cameo from the bench against Coventry.