BURNLEY were the last team to beat Middlesbrough, five games before the end of last season.

Ross Wallace is hoping to be part of the first team to put a dent in their flying start to this.

Boro arrive at Turf Moor tomorrow unbeaten in their first seven games, echoing the build-up to their Champion-ship dual last term.

Back then Tony Mowbray’s side boasted three wins and a draw. This time two draws bookend five wins on the spin in league and cup.

But after beating high flying Derby County in the last game before the international break, Wallace is ready for Burnley’s next big challenge to chalk off their first league win on home soil.

“We ground it out to secure the win in the end at Derby. We were disappointed to go into the international break after that, but these things happen,” said the Scot.

“It’s a bit of a pain because we’ve got a massive game (tomorrow), but we’ve handled it before so I don’t think it will be too much of a problem.

“The lads are confident.”

The young intake, Wallace feels, are overflowing with it, and making up for the sudden loss of star men like Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears.

“I don’t know what it was about losing the players we did, whether it was the wages they were on or whatever, but we’ve brought in young lads and the manager has had to adapt, so you’ve got to give him credit for spotting these guys,” said Wallace of new signings such as Zavon Hines, deadline day arrival Junior Stanislas and loan stars Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee.

“We lost a lot of big players, but the guys who have come in have been superb.”

He has been particularly enthused by young Manchester City right back Trippier, who has seamlessly filled the void left by Mears, Wallace’s personal player of the year from last season.

“Right back was a position we were probably worried about at the start of the season after Tyrone left, but Tripps has come in and been outstanding.

“I voted for Ty as my player of the year, so we were always going to miss him, but at the moment it doesn't look like it,” said the former Preston winger, who has struck up an instant understanding with Trippier down the right.

“Sometimes you link up with players better than others, and it seems to be going well at the moment.

“Kieran is similar to Ty in the way he gets forward and bombs on, so I’m probably used to playing with that style, so it’s clicked right away.

“I can come inside now and have a few more shots, which I’m trying to do.”

Roles have reversed from when Wallace and Keith Treacy were team-mates at Preston, where Treacy played on the right and Wallace on his natural left side.

“A lot of teams have left footers on the right these days, and vice versa – it seems to be the way forward in the modern game, and I’m enjoying it,” said Wallace, who at just 26 has become one of the more senior figures at the club during the transfer window changes.

“I’ve had my best games for Burnley playing on the right.

“You get more of the ball, you get to come inside and get involved, and you can go outside as well.”

The arrival of versatile winger Stanislas from West Ham has put pressure on the two wide men, but Wallace is embracing it.

“I’m excited by it. You can feel the energy, and we have speed, which you need nowadays going forward,” he said.

“We have pace and a final ball, and Jay (Rodriguez) and Charlie (Austin) are playing well as well.

“Overall we have good options, and that’s what you want.

“You want good players at the club. Everybody wants the same thing – to get promoted – so you want good players to improve your chances.

“I’m all for bringing in good players in the same position because it helps me play better and raise my game.

“Right now I’m feeling fit and feel I’m playing fairly well so I have to keep it up.”

Read Andy Lochhead's column only in today's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.