SEB HINES will not dwell on the own goal that sent Middlesbrough out of the Capital One Cup last week, and admits that keeping a clean sheet at the weekend was the perfect tonic.

The centre-half nodded into his own net at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea on Wednesday night as Boro suffered a cruel defeat in South Wales.

But the 24-year-old was instrumental in the back four in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Leeds-born central defender believes that a league victory was the ideal way to bounce back from the disappointment of scoring an own goal.

“These things happen. As a defender, you’re going to score an own goal,” said Hines, after a late penalty from Marvin Emnes and an injury-time goal from Scott McDonald gave Boro the points.

“If I had to defend that ball again I’d still put my head on it. It was disappointing it went in, but you have to bounce back and move on, and getting a clean sheet was a massive result for me.”

Hines lined up in defence alongside Jonathan Woodgate, and believes his partnership with the former Real Madrid man has been a massive help to his own development.

“It’s always pleasing to keep a clean sheet,” said Hines. “Woody is a top-class defender, playing alongside him really helps me and helps the back four.

“He’s quality. He reads the game so well. He helps me get into the right positions and he can only help me in my career going forward.

“Playing at the back it’s all about communication and being in the right position, and he definitely helps me do that.”

Boro’s victory was somewhat fortunate, in that the game looked likely to end 0-0 until Karl Henry was judged to have hand-balled McDonald’s cross in the box, but Hines felt the win was no fluke.

He said: “As long as we stay in the game, we’ve always got a chance of getting three points.

“With the strikers we’ve got, and the quality we have up front, we can always get a goal.

“It was a very competitive game and both teams were really going for it.

Saturday’s win was made even sweeter by Cardiff City losing and Crystal Palace being held to a point, with Boro cutting the gap between third and top to three points, and Hines said: “We can only focus on ourselves.

“Our home form has really picked up this season and I think teams come here and feel threatened by us.

“The crowd were terrific on Saturday and really got behind us.

“Promotion is the aim, simple as, and that’s what we’re all working towards.”