MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Darren Randolph feels the impressive start to the Championship season is merely the beginning of a greater success story under Tony Pulis.

Boro have now gone 503 minutes without conceding, a five-match run stretching back to the opening weekend of the season when they battled back from two goals down to earn a point at Millwall.

Last Friday’s goalless draw at leaders Leeds United was a further indication of the progress that has been made by Pulis in shaping the team the way he wants.

Leeds had scored in every game before Middlesbrough’s visit to Elland Road but they found the red shirts in no mood to concede and in the end the visitors could even have won it had one of their late chances fallen more kindly.

There were a few concerns dotted around when Middlesbrough sold Ben Gibson to Burnley for £15m, but younger defender Dael Fry has slotted in seamlessly to work in an organised back three alongside Aden Flint and Daniel Ayala.

The arrival of Wolves defender Danny Batth on loan has also added to the defensive options, while George Friend and Ryan Shotton have been doing well as wing-backs. Adam Clayton’s presence in the middle in front of the back four has also set the tone for the solid mindset.

Randolph has benefited from the team’s performances. He has made saves, but he is also indebted to the defence in front of him for being nominated for the PFA Bristol Street Motors Championship Player of the Month award for August, which was won by Leeds’ Pablo Hernandez.

"It's been a great start," said Randolph. "We have spent a lot of time on the training pitch working on different things, and it's paid off so far.

"We conceded two in the first game against Millwall and then had five clean sheets. We do a lot of work on the team shape and it’s down to being organised and everyone knowing their role and doing their job, not taking any risks. We know how we’re going to play, what to do and what not to do.

"It's only the start of it, something to build on, but everyone's very happy so far."

Randolph, who is on international duty with Ireland, arrived from West Ham in a £5m deal in the summer of last year. He was left frustrated in May, though, when his promotion aim was shattered by Aston Villa’s success over Middlesbrough in the play-off semi-final.

Having experienced that disappointment, the 31-year-old is certain that Middlesbrough can use that as a spur to ensure they go one better this time around – and ideally stay in the top two rather than face an end of season play-off tussle.

"We didn't have enough to go to the final, so we came back this year and expected to be up there again," said Randolph. "We always want to go further than we did last year, so a lot is expected of us, and we don't want the same feeling from the end of the season this year as we did last year."

  • Former Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, meanwhile, has joined Blackburn – as an academy coach.

Tony Mowbray, the Rovers boss and Teesside-born, has handed Boateng the chance, knowing he has a wealth of experience behind him as well as a burning ambition to manage.

Boateng made over 500 appearances during his career and had successful spells with Aston Villa, Coventry and Middlesbrough. He retired in 2013 and has completed his UEFA Pro Licence, while he has managed in Malaysia where also held a director of football role.

Boateng told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I’m absolutely delighted to be taking on this new role. It’s a great environment here at Rovers to start my coaching career in England.

“The philosophy and style of football here is what I believe in, so that made my decision quite an easy one.”