Jamie Reid was in full agreement with his boss when he said the second half against Northampton Town was the best performance in his year in charge.

Boro had not been at the races in the first period at Sixfields, trailing to a fifth-minute Louis Appere goal, but two substitutions at the break changed the whole momentum of the contest.

Reid himself was part of a second double change with 20 minutes to go, scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 draw just two minutes later.

Steve Evans proclaimed his jubilation at that performance after the break with Reid backing him up.

He said: "We were really dominant in the second half and I would have no question about that being our best performance.

"It was like the start of the season, when we were rolling over some teams.

"We haven't probably been at that [level recently] but yeah, that second-half was good and we could have come away with the three points.

"But if we take the week we've had, we had four or five boys going home ill on Thursday, unable to train.

"We've had a few down days so to get through all that and come out here with a point, I think anyone would have taken that."

He did admit the match carried parallels to the Crewe game at home, another match that needed his introduction for them to seize points.

This time it was truly delicious goal, pirouetting away from a lunging defender before thumping it low past the keeper and in off both posts.

And he doesn't mind if he has to come off the bench, as he knows he is up against some very good team-mates for the starting shirts

Reid said: "Every time I get on the pitch, I just want to try and help the team and try and score goals.

"There were probably times in the second-half where I could have found someone and we could have probably gone on a on a dangerous attack but when I know I've got that space in front of me, the only thing in my mind is to shoot.

"We've got starting 11 who is very strong but the bench is just as strong."

The game also saw the return of Luther James-Wildin and Terence Vancooten to the starting line-up, something Reid believes can not be over exaggerated.

He said: "They are massive, massive players for us. Most of our squad are massive players but especially those two.

"They've been brilliant for us in the first half of the season and we have missed them at times.

"To get them back [is great] and like I said, our bench is strong. I think most of us could start in most League Two teams.

"We're looking strong towards the end of the season."