FORMER Saints star James Beattie hailed his "heroic" players after League Two side Accrington won 2-1 at Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup last night.

Championship side Middlesbrough went ahead early on through Southampton-born Lukas Jutkiewicz but Stanley clawed level before the break through Marcus Carver and snatched it late on with a strike by Piero Mingoia.

Stanley had to survive a pounding as the home side piled on the pressure and created a string of chances, and Beattie lauded a resolute display of defending.

"They threw everything at us and we put in a magnificent performance. I'm proud of them," said former England striker Beattie.

"It was a fantastic reaction after the defeat at the weekend." Accrington had been humbled 4-1 by Newport on Saturday, in Beattie's first competitive game in charge of the club, but victory at the Riverside was a good response.

"We rode our luck at times, there's no denying that," Beattie said.

"They had a lot of chances and we did well. We put our bodies on the line. We showed commitment.

"There were some real heroic performances out there. I'm not going to single individuals out but they know who they are.

"I've told the lads to enjoy it but we start work tomorrow on Saturday's game (against Portsmouth). "It was a massive win for the club, financially it could be a great boost for us, especially if we get a lucrative draw in the next round. and it will give the lads another chance to showcase their skills."