Burton 0 Middlesbrough U21s 1

SIXTEEN-year-old sub Hayden Hackney made history for Paul Stephenson’s Under-21 side as Middlesbrough picked up their first ever Checkatrade Trophy victory.

Hackney broke the deadlock just three minutes from time as he guided the ball across the box with his head after fellow substitute Billal Brahimi floated over a cross from the right.

Middlesbrough were aided by the experience of 35-year-old goalkeeper Andy Lonergan who turned in a man of the match performance.

Burton started brightest and it took just two minutes for the Middlesbrough defence to be tested as Will Miller latched onto a pass from the midfield and fired a low shot across Lonergan who saved well with his feet.

Elliot Hodge forced Lonergan into another smart save after an excellent give and go with Marvin Sordell released the midfielder down the right.

Boro’s best chance of the half came after 24 minutes as forward Stephen Walker curled a 23-yard free kick high over the wall after he was bought down by midfielder Ben Fox.

Seven minutes from half time Lonergan completed a hattrick of fine saves as he dived acrobatically to his right to tip over a 25-yard effort from David Templeton.

Despite defending for most of the first half, Boro had the better chances in the second period as Kian Spence played a smart ball across the edge of the penalty area, which was met by Dan Ward who curled the ball agonisingly wide denying him his second goal in this competition.

Moments later Ward had another excellent opportunity as his whipped shot from the corner of the box rattled the crossbar and bounced to safety, relieving the pressure on a Burton defence who were much busier after the break.

But Boro were unable to score until Hackney's late goal.

Burton (4-3-3): Evtimov 5; Buxton 7, Sbarra 6, Templeton 7 (Allen 67, 5 ), Fox 6, McCroy 6, Harness 7, Sordell 6, Miller 6 (Hesketh 82, 4), Hodge 6 (Boyce 79, 4), Wallace 6. Subs (not used): Campbell, Beardsley, Hart, Cole

Middlesbrough U21 (4-3-3): Lonergan 8; Ward 6, Liddle 6 , Stubbs 7, D.Spence 6, Malley 6, O’Neill 7, Walker 5 (Brahimi 68, 7) , Guru 6, K.Spence 7 (Hackney 85 8) , Robinson 6. Subs (not used): James, Dodds, Mcgill, Watts, Hood