Middlesbrough's 'massive difference' in Lincoln City win

First, Will Lankshear instinctively stuck out a boot and turned home Leo Castledine's low drive.

It was a goal from nothing, the sort of which Boro didn't score last season.

And just moments later, the board went up to indicate a treble substitution: Riley McGree, Myles Peart-Harris and Max Arfsten introduced and here was evidence of the power of Boro's squad depth, the result of their impressive summer recruitment.

It was McGree whose moment of magic led to the stoppage time second for Lankshear, by which point Lincoln - game and spirited - were running on empty. Now, unlike last season, it feels like Boro have the tools to take advantage.

"The quality coming on from the bench was very good for us," said Hellberg afterwards.

"And this season we’ll need that. This is a massive difference."

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Peart-Harris made a massive difference. He might not have been the most eye-catching of Boro's summer recruits but he looks at home in a midfield role where he believes he's at his best and he added drive and thrust when he was introduced.

Jeremy Sarmiento followed the three players initially introduced, the fit again Alfie Jones came on in stoppage time to make sure Boro saw the game out and new signing Ashley Phillips was watching from the stands.

And to think Boro still have Tommy Conway and Aidan Morris to come back. And there'll be more new faces through the door before the window is out.

This felt like a game that Boro would likely have lost and certainly wouldn't have won last season. How do we know? Because we saw it on too many costly occasions in the second half of the campaign: a physical and organised side with something to cling to sitting deep and succeeding in their bid to stifle and frustrate.

With that in mind, psychologically, this should be such a boost to Boro - not just to win on the opening day but to win in the manner they did.

And they'll only get better. They'll have to get better. Hellberg knows that. He blamed himself for the poor first half, but after Lankshear's leveller the mood inside the Riverside changed. And the game changed.

Peart-Harris pulled the strings and probably played his way into the starting XI at Blackburn next week. Hellberg had started Abdoulaye Kante in midfield, a reward for an impressive pre-season for the youngster, and, rather surprisingly, Neto Borges ahead of new recruit Arfsten at left-back. But there looked to be a better balance to the side late on.

And how have we got this far without talking more about Lankshear, for while the added depth is of crucial importance, the real game-changer feels like the lad with the No.7 on his back.

Lankshear was 10/1 to finish the season as top scorer earlier this week. Those odds have already almost halved.

His equaliser was all about predatory instinct and his winner a reward for his brilliant movement, darting to the front post after McGree had worked his magic. Thirty years on from Fabrizio Ravanelli's debut hat-trick, Lankshear was so nearly taking home the match-ball, only denied after one second half effort deflected onto the bar.

The season is only two games old but Lankshear already has three goals and it's already so obvious why so many clubs wanted to sign him this summer. And why Boro officials could barely contain their joy at landing the 21-year-old.

He was a man in-demand after the game as well: six separate interviews conducted as well as speaking on the club's channels.

His new teammates have instantly recognised his class and importance. After Lankshear was serenaded at full-time, Tommy Conway was singing the striker's new chant after the full-time celebrations had concluded and the players made their way down the tunnel and back to the dressing room.

Hellberg might well have been humming the tune of Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark on Saturday night.

The head coach knows he has a supreme striking talent on his hands.

"If you look at it last season, we were the team that created most chances in the league, and and for a striker or offensive player, that is opportunities for goals," he said.

"I think you can see Will’s quality and of course it helps. You need to put the ball away, and Will did that today.

"But there were other players that have the same quality in terms of scoring goals, or similar level of qualities in different areas," he continued.

"What we tried to do in the window was add quality in both boxes - and of course a lot of young development players - and I think that is our edge. We're getting there."