Saturday’s win against Hartlepool was a big one for many players, none more so than youth graduate Rohdell Gordon who made his first appearance for the club since the penultimate game of the 2013/2014 season.
Having spent much of last season out on loan, Gordon returned to the first team fold in the summer however an injury upon return from training camp in Sevilla hampered his progress.
After making a return to training at the start of the week, Gordon suitably impressed and was given the nod by the gaffer.
“I found out today that I was going to be playing; I have been training for the last four days and I have been doing alright but it was still a bit of a surprise to me as well but I am happy that I started.”
Gordon started down the right and showed some good glimpses alongside goalscorer, Fraser Franks.
“Playing in front of Fraser was brilliant for me, he has got so much experience, he talks to me and he leads me to be honest.
“I was really happy playing next to him and he showed me through the half.”
It was by no means a perfect performance from Boro but Gordon says the ebbs and flows you get in a game are to be expected and the result was all that mattered.
“The gaffer did tell us to pass it with purpose and we didn’t do that in patches but it wasn’t easy out there, it is going to happen in football games – you’re on top, then it gets a bit neutral, then they’re on top, it goes to-and-fro but we got there in the end.
“It happens in games, when you are 1-0 up and there are 20 minutes to go, you don’t want to drop off but it happens naturally. The opposition start loading balls in and you are slightly on the back foot.
“The second goal was a big turning point in the game, I think we knew that we had it as long as we kept the ball, did things right, got our defending right."
With the first win of the season now in the bank, Gordon says the players will gain confidence.
“Getting a result under our belt is always good, good confidence for the lads as well.
“We knew we could do it but I just think we started off very rusty this season but everyone’s finding their feet now and players are gelling well.”
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