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Beardsley's Frustration At Late Collapse
Written by Newcastle Utd
Peter Beardsley challenged his players to learn from the experience after Newcastle's under-21s saw their unbeaten run come to an end at Middlesbrough
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Peter Beardsley admitted that Newcastle's youngsters were "frustrated" to see their unbeaten start to the Barclays Under-21 Premier League season ended by two late Middlesbrough goals on Monday night.
The Magpies were on course to return to the top of the second division table when Adam Campbell marked his return from injury with a 34th-minute strike at Hartlepool's Victoria Park, but the Teessiders scored twice in the final two minutes to claim the three points.
So Boro - whose goals came from James Husband in the 88th minute and substitute Callum Cooke in the 90th - climbed from third position to leapfrog United, who had won four and drawn one of their opening five fixtures at second-string level.
And Football Development Manager Beardsley told nufc.co.uk: "It was really disappointing - but they'll learn from it.
"It's an experience they won't want to repeat too often and they're frustrated in there (the away dressing room). We were quite comfortable and probably mismanaged the game in the end.
"We battled hard but we haven't played anywhere near like we can. Overall a draw would have probably been a fair result, but to be fair to Middlesbrough they took their two chances and good luck to them."
The performance of Middlesbrough's England under-20 international goalkeeper Connor Ripley proved crucial, as he thwarted Kevin Mbabu and Liam Gibson in the second half before the game's dramatic climax.
"He made one brilliant save from Kevin Mbabu," Beardsley said. "It was a fantastic save.
"Jak (Alnwick)'s done the same for us in the past and when you get an experienced goalkeeper who knows the game, it makes a massive difference. That's their job but when it's against you, you're disappointed.
"We obviously know where we are (in the table) but we've never really looked at that and thought we need to be here or there.
"It was about trying to stay unbeaten for them, because they've had a good run, but we just have to bounce back next week against Aston Villa at St. James' and try and get on another run."
Campbell's scoring return from a hernia injury was one big positive for Beardsley.
The teenager finished well after a great run and pass from Haris Vuckic, and played for just over an hour.
It was his first appearance since heading back to Tyneside following a loan spell with League One side Fleetwood, where he made four appearances but only one start.
And Beardsley said: "He does what he does - he scores goals.
"We've always known he's been a good goalscorer and he took his goal really well. It was a good move and a good finish and that's what he does.
"That'll do him good and hopefully when we get to Villa on Monday he'll be ready again.
"I think he's been unlucky in the sense that Fleetwood, when he was there, were on their best run - they were top of the league, so he was unlucky.
"But it's good for us to have him back and we'll hopefully get him to the next level as quickly as we can."