Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate explains why he dropped Aynsley Pears and Dejan Stojanovic's debut

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was left on the bench against Charlton.

Boro claimed a much-needed 1-0 win at The Valley to climb out of the Championship relegation zone and end a 10-match winless run in the league.

Paddy McNair scored the game’s only goal on 17 minutes, yet there was some surprise when the teams were announced an hour before kick-off.

January signing Dejan Stojanovic was handed his senior debut at the expense of Pears, who dropped to the bench after starting Boro’s last 19 league games.

Despite some late Charlton pressure, Stojanovic, who joined the Teessiders from Swiss side St. Gallen, didn’t have many saves to make.

When asked about his decision after the match, Woodgate said: “I think Aynsley has done unbelievably well but I just thought with 10 games to go Dejan has played a lot of competitive games and has done a lot better in training recently.

“He’s played a lot of under-23s games so I thought he deserved a chance.”

“From where Aynsley has come from last year playing in non league for Gateshead, he’s done absolutely unbelievable.

“His attitude again today, in the warm-up, before the game, when I told him, was magnificent. He’s a mature kid for a 21-year-old.”

The result moved Boro up to 19th in the table, ahead of Charlton, Wigan, Hull City.

Yet Woodgate insists he isn’t getting carried away, and that there’s still plenty of work to do.

“All we’ll do is look to the next game at home to Swansea,” Woodgate added. “I’ve said this all along - one game at a time.

“Let’s not put points figures on what it takes to stay up. Let’s take it one game at a time.

“We’re still in a dogfight, there’s a long way to go, a long way to go.

“Don’t get excited because we’ve won one game, and get complacent. That won’t be happening in the dressing room.

“We’ve got a big game next week against Swansea.”