Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has confirmed the club will stick to its aggressive attacking approach in the pursuit of Premier League promotion. The Swede's side sit third in the Championship with 22 points from 11 games, just a point behind leaders Swansea, after a run of five unbeaten matches.
Hellberg is unapologetic about the team's front-foot philosophy, which has delivered 22 league goals this season. "You have to pick in football what you want to be and we want to be an offensive team," he said. This commitment has defined their campaign, with the side scoring 25 times in their last six outings alone.
Resilience in recent form
That attacking output has been vital, as defensive solidity has been harder to find. Boro have managed only two clean sheets all season, conceding 11 goals in those same six games. Their resilience was shown in dramatic comebacks from two goals down to draw with Millwall and, most recently, Cardiff City last Friday. That 2-2 draw at the Riverside extended their unbeaten run, a sequence detailed on our fixtures page.
"We win more than we lose because of that and that's why over a long time, we've been a team that has developed a lot," Hellberg added. The statistics support his claim, with the team creating nearly twice as many shots as their opponents recently and firing 36 efforts at goal in the single game against Cardiff. The manager also highlighted the team's work in goal minutes, noting they have scored 14 times in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, a key factor in their ability to salvage points.
The promotion picture
With 22 goals scored and 16 conceded, Boro's positive goal difference of six underpins their strong league position. Will Lankshear has been central to their threat, leading the scoring charts with nine goals in 11 appearances. The team's current form reads two wins and three draws from their last five, a platform they will take to the University of Bolton Stadium this Friday night for their next fixture against Bolton Wanderers on 23 October.
A victory against Bolton would see Middlesbrough leapfrog Swansea into top spot, applying intense pressure in the automatic promotion race. Hellberg's men face that challenge with a clear and brave identity, determined to give their supporters a thrilling ride all the way to the Premier League. The next test is a 23 October clash with Bolton, where three points are the target.
