Tony Pulis: 'The kids have proved they're up to it - now they need to play some football'

Boro claimed a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win after coming from behind on three separate occasions to draw 3-3 in normal time, with Andy Lonergan saving two spot-kicks to secure his side’s success.

• In Pictures: Middlesbrough v Notts County

Lonergan was one of four debutants in the starting line-up, with Pulis also selecting Enes Mahmutovic, who scored Boro’s second goal at the end of the first half, Nathan McGinley and Harry Chapman from the kick-off.

Stephen Walker, who scored one of Boro’s penalties, and Djed Spence came off the bench in the second half, along with teenager Nathan Wood, who became the club’s youngest ever player at the age of just 16 years and 75 days.

In total, eight academy products were involved in last night’s win, with Pulis delighted to see Boro’s famed Rockliffe Park production line once again proving its worth.

“It was absolutely fantastic to get all of them on the pitch,” said Pulis, who saw Ashley Fletcher score twice to peg back a Notts County side that also boasted a brace from Jon Stead. “It was some game. There were six goals, we’ve come from behind three times and I think we ended the game having played eight young academy players. Then we won the penalty shoot-out.

“The support was fantastic. The supporters have come here wanting to enjoy a night, and they’ve seen the young players play. The young uns have enjoyed it, the supporters have enjoyed it and we’ve won, so it’s been a good night.

“Football clubs spend a lot of money on their academies now, and sometimes you get criticised for playing the young players in these competitions. But I’m a great believer that the kids have to play.”

To that end, Pulis will look to send a number of last night’s performers out on loan ahead of the Football League deadline at the end of the month.

Chapman, whose first-half shoulder injury is not serious, has already had loan spells at Barnsley, Sheffield United and Blackburn, and is likely to be in demand from a number of clubs in the Championship and League One.

The likes of Mahmutovic and McGinley also caught the eye last night, and while they could find themselves featuring in the next round of the League Cup if they remain on Teesside, Pulis would rather see them getting regular league action under their belt.

“Young players today, playing academy football, it’s not really what is needed to become a professional footballer,” he said. “When you go out to clubs, you’re playing for a manager who needs to win games because he needs to keep his job.

“You’re playing for a group of supporters that are coming to see their team, so it’s not just the technical side of it, it’s the mental side too. That’s what the lads playing academy football week in, week out, don’t get.

“If you gave me the chance and the option, I’d get the kids out playing football every week, whether it was in the top tiers of non-league football or any of the leagues, just to get them that experience and that understanding of what it takes. At times tonight, they were very good, but they would have learned from it.

“I hope a few of them get out on loan. If it was down to me, all of them would be out playing football on loan.”

Pulis was especially impressed with his young players’ desire to step up in the penalty shoot-out, despite the pressure of volunteering to take a spot-kick.

Eight players involved in last night’s game were aged 21 or under, but there was a collective desire to step forward, with 17-year-old Walker and 19-year-old Tavernier both converting from the spot.

“The great thing was right at the end, when they came over before the penalties,” said Pulis. “I’m a great believer that if you feel confident enough to take a penalty, then you give it to the person that feels confident.

“There was about six out of the seven young lads that came up wanting to take one. They were pushing Grant (Leadbitter) and Fletch (Fletcher) out of the way saying, ‘I want to take one’. That’s absolutely fantastic.”