Boro's Under-21s are back in action again on Sunday when Chelsea are the visitors to Bishop Auckland.
The PL2 campaign started with back-to-back defeats for the youngsters, having been beaten by Reading and edged out by a strong Sunderland side earlier this week.
Hazeem Bakre, who joined the club from Huddersfield during the summer, has scored in both of the games, and U21s lead coach Mark Tinkler says there has been plenty to take from the performances.
"It was a really good game at Sunderland and for long periods we had a really good shape," he said.
"Sunderland had a very good team out and it was a good learning experience for our players."
It's a much-changed U21s for Boro this season with a number of the more experienced members of the group having moved on during the summer.
And Tinkler says Sunday's game will be another step on the learning curve.
"Chelsea have some fantastic players and it'll be another chance for our lads," he said.
"We want to go into games challenging the players and making them think about performances and how to do well.
"If they show the right mentality that's how they will learn and improve over the course of the season."
Admission at Bishop Auckland is free to Boro Season Ticket holders otherwise it's £3.