MICHAEL Duff was delighted with the character on show as his Burnley Under-23 side got their Premier League Cup campaign off to a winning start at Newcastle.

The Clarets were 2-0 down at their Category 1 opponents, who play in Premier League 2 Division 2, but roared back to lead 3-2. The Magpies then snatched an equaliser before Rahis Nabi won it for the visitors late on.

“It was an interesting game,” Duff said.

“It was a strange one really. We didn’t start the game particularly well and went 1-0 down, and we sort of looked at them too much and gave them a little bit too much respect.

“We came out in the second half and had two or three unbelievable opportunities, then gave another bad goal away, but then at 2-0 down they could have gone ‘tools down’ and played with disappointment, so I give the lads credit for that.

“It’s almost liked it freed them up a little bit. We though we’ve got nothing to lose here but then obviously went 3-2 up with three good goals, then gave another disappointing goal away, which is something were not very happy about.

“But then we showed great character to keep going and nick it at the end.”

Lewis McNall had scored twice to put Newcastle 2-0 up, but Harry Limb, Christian N’Guessan and Khius Metz scored three times in 15 minutes to give the Clarets the advantage.

Mo Sangare equalised for the hosts in the 86th minute before Nabi's dramatic winner.