Hogg's verdict after Tyne-Tees triumph

After a goalless 45 minutes, Elliot Anderson's opener and Tom Allan's 17th goal of the season sealed a deserved win for United's second-string at Heritage Park, with Boro defender Nathan Wood sent off in stoppage-time for a last man foul on United striker Yannick Touré.

Hogg's first game in the dugout, after watching from the stands during Newcastle's 6-2 Premier League Cup win against Scunthorpe United last week, proved a successful one against his hometown club and the Teesside-born coach was pleased in witnessing his side record a fifth consecutive win in all competitions along with a fourth clean sheet in as many games. 

"It becomes a game where you can control after scoring the goals but I'm really pleased for the boys again," Hogg told nufc.co.uk. "Since I've been here, the work ethic and their attitude towards what myself, Ben (Dawson) and the coaching staff are asking of them in training has been excellent.

"It's trying to get a real clinical edge to the group. When you're on top in a game or you're having moments where you can score a goal, you have to take them. The higher you go in the levels, that becomes even more important. 

"At half-time, I reiterated the good things and a couple of areas where we'd like to tweak and improve but once we got the goals, that builds confidence and especially after the second goal, I thought we then controlled the game and had some good passages of play, controlling the ball more, which was really pleasing.

"It's a case tonight of trying to push their own levels and try to keep that consistency with certain actions and moments in the game but I thought they did that very well which I was delighted to see.

"Any game is an important one at this level in terms of their own development. I think everybody in the group is well aware of the league table and what that means and what three points mean.

"As soon as I came in, I've said that I want to finish the season as well as we can. I want the individuals to get better but as a team, if we can have good, collective performances, that will turn into results and we will see where that takes us in the league table.

"The lads are well aware of where they are at and what they want to achieve from now until the end of the season so I'm delighted for them because they deserved the three points."

After a difficult start to the 2019/20 campaign, United's youngsters are on a purple patch since the turn of the year, with just one defeat in 2020 - a narrow 2-1 defeat away at Manchester United.

With one point currently separating Newcastle and Middlesbrough - who occupy the final play-off spot - Hogg, who only joined the club last week, is eager for his side to continue their positive streak of late in a bid to finish their campaign in positive fashion.

"The confidence is high and they're together as a group, which is great to see," he added. "As a new coach coming in, there's always a transition period in terms of them getting used to me and me getting used to them but I can't sing their praises highly enough.

"They've been great with their attitude, effort, the things they're trying and the information they are taking on board is really good. It's credit to them that they have put themselves in this position and it's up to them to finish off and get some positive results at the end of the season."

Photograph courtesy of Tom Banks/MFC