GARRY MONK insists he was never concerned about his personal job security as Middlesbrough boss, although he was still delighted to see his players successfully handle the pressure that had built in the lead-up to their weekend win over Ipswich.

Monk’s position had been called into question in the wake of successive defeats to Derby County and Bristol City, but Saturday’s comprehensive 2-0 win has bought the Boro boss some welcome breathing space as he prepares for pre-Christmas away games at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.

Boro didn’t produce a flawless display as goals from Martin Braithwaite and Patrick Bamford saw off Ipswich, but by the final whistle, they were exuding a confidence and assurance that has been conspicuously lacking for much of the season.

Monk was delighted to see his players return to winning ways, but claims his satisfaction reflected his pleasure at seeing his squad’s effort rewarded rather than any relief at his own position being strengthened.

The former Swansea and Leeds boss was reluctant to speak about his future prospects in the build-up to the game, and continues to insist he will not be focusing on himself as he looks to ensure Saturday’s victory is the spark for a sustained revival.

“I don’t really think about myself – I look at my job to help players and help this club,” said Monk, whose three changes to Saturday’s starting line-up all had a positive effect. “That’s all I care about, and the desire to do that is as strong as ever.

“The main thing is that I was pleased for the players. The response (to the Bristol City defeat) was really good all week. We had a tough week, but we worked hard, and I thought we won the game quite comfortably. The most important thing is that we build on it now and don’t put ourselves back a step.”

Boro’s players had been booed from the field after their defeat at Ashton Gate, with Monk admitting the performance against Bristol City had fallen way short of the required standards.

He spent last week rebuilding his players’ confidence, while reminding them of their responsibilities at a club that expects to be challenging for promotion this season.

Since taking over at the Riverside, Monk has spent a lot of time talking about the need for collective responsibility and self-policing within the dressing room. He expects his players to be harsh on themselves, and was delighted to see them successfully handle the pressure that had built as a direct result of their previous two poor showings.

“I agreed with a lot of the criticism,” he said. “You understand that in football, and it’s about staying focused on what you need to do.

“In the previous two games, we hadn’t been near the standards that we set. If we’re going to hold those standards, then we can’t accept anything less.

“Criticism comes and people talk about pressure, but pressure is how you perceive it. Outside pressure, I don’t pay attention to. In terms of the internal pressure, nothing is stronger than setting a standard.

“The biggest pressure of all is what you hold yourself to. If you fall below it, you can’t accept that and you have to fight back. This was a step forward to seeing what they are capable of and what we can get to. Of course, we need to push for more now and make sure we build on the result.”

Meanwhile, Marcus Tavernier was part of a Middlesbrough Under-23s side that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Norwich City.

Pierre Fonkeu scored the only goal of the game for Norwich’s second-string, but Boro remain two points clear of Blackburn Rovers at the top of the Premier League 2 Division Two table.

Boro's FA Youth Cup third-round game with Bolton Wanderers at the Riverside has been rearranged for Thursday, December 14 (7pm). The game had originally been due to take place this evening, but has been moved because of the weather.