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  1. 'Hellberg must hit ground running with pack closing in'published at 15:55 GMT 28 November

    Media caption,

    'Hellberg needs to get off to a good start with Boro'

    The pressure is already on Kim Hellberg as he prepares for his first game in charge of Middlesbrough.

    Hellberg takes charge of Boro for the first time against in-form Derby County at Riverside Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

    Speaking on BBC Radio Tees' fan panel, Boro fan Brian warns, "I think at the moment we are going backwards. We're only two draws instead of wins away from being out of the top six because the pack is closing.

    "Teams like Derby County, five or six [recent wins] I think it is. Last time I was on, I was saying how poor the relegated teams were, Ipswich are on a roll. Southampton got a good away victory last week."

    A 4-2 loss to Coventry on Tuesday night means Boro are now 10 points behind the league leaders, have dropped out of the automatic promotion spots and could be looking over their shoulder at teams below them.

    Brian added: "The gap is closing and this is why I think really Kim, this new appointment, he really needs to start off on the front foot. There's lots of challengers there.

    "I wouldn't swap our position, I just think we need to do a little bit more to protect it.

    "He needs to hit the ground running because Friday evening, Preston play away at Oxford, if they win that, we could find ourselves down at fourth place before we play Derby County."

    Listen to more from the BBC Radio Tees fan panel on BBC Sounds.

  2. Pick of the stats: Middlesbrough v Derby Countypublished at 10:22 GMT 28 November

    Side-by-side of Middlesbrough and Derby County club badges

    Kim Hellberg will take helm of Middlesbrough for the first time on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as his new side host Derby County.

    Boro won their first game under caretaker boss Adi Viveash but subsequently only earned one point out of their following two matches to see them out of the second place spot on goal difference.

    But Hellberg's introduction to the Riverside will be a testing one, with the Rams winning six of their past seven league matches (L1) to put themselves within touching distance of the top six.

    • Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last 16 home league games against Derby (W12 D3), winning each of the last three in a row.

    • Derby lost their last league meeting with Middlesbrough in March (0-1), but haven't lost consecutive league matches against Boro since a run of three from April 2014 to March 2015.

    • Middlesbrough have only won one of their last six league games (D3 L2), conceding in each of those games; they last endured a longer run of conceding between October and December 2024 (9 games).

    • Derby County have won six of their last seven league games (L1), winning each of their last three on the road; they last enjoyed a longer such run in the Championship in October 2014 (4).

    • Derby's Andreas Weimann has been involved in four goals in his last three away league appearances against Middlesbrough (1 goal, 3 assists), providing a hat-trick of assists in Bristol City's 3-1 win in July 2020.

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  3. What will Hellberg bring to Boro?published at 12:13 GMT 27 November

    Media caption,

    Nordic Football Pod host Jonathan Fadugba discusses Hellberg's tactical approach and character as a manager

    New Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg will take charge of his first game when Derby visit the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

    In his first major managerial job with Varnamo in 2022, the 37-year-old kept the club in the Allsvenskan in their first-ever season in the Swedish top flight before leading them to an incredible fifth-place finish in 2023.

    Hellberg was then appointed by Hammarby and guided them to two consecutive second-place finishes in 2024 and 2025.

    Nordic Football Pod host Jonathan Fadugba says Hellberg is a "young and exciting" coach, who is considered "one of the best emerging managers in Sweden".

    "He will try and put together an entertaining style of play," Fadugba told BBC Radio Tees.

    "He's not a boring manager who will try to just sit in and nick a 1-0. He's someone who likes to implement an attacking game and go at teams.

    "That's why his Hammarby side have been considered one of the best teams in the league for the past two years."

    Fadugba said Hellberg would be open to adapting his style to the Championship and "won't be wedded to a system" if it isn't working.

    "There will be a bedding in period, he's not the messiah who will come and everything is going to be amazing," he said.

    "But one thing you can guarantee is that he's a clever manager. He will try and adapt in-game and he will definitely try and play the right style of football."

    Describing his character, Fadugba said Hellberg is "very cool, calm, collected and debonair".

    "A bit dapper on the sidelines, he has a bit of touchline chic," Fadugba added.

    "Very unflappable. He's not a manager who gets carried away and starts throwing teacups. Very relaxed and clear eyed. He's very methodical but also very innovative.

    "I think one of the reasons he's been selected by Middlesbrough, at such a big club, is that he's got a very modern style of management."

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  4. 🎧 Have Coventry already won the Championship?published at 16:45 GMT 26 November

    Media caption,

    72+ podcast: Coventry 10 points clear and Eckert excels at Southampton

    "Coventry look like a team that are ready to go the season - but every team has a wobble."

    Have the Sky Blues already got the Championship title in the bag? Is new Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg the right man for the job at Riverside Stadium? Is it time for Southampton and Tonda Eckert to make their partnership official?

    The 72+ team are joined once again by Chelmsford City striker Lyle Taylor to discuss all of the latest news in the Championship - from Coventry's dominant 10-point lead to Charlton's defensive woes.

    Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  5. Viveash disappointed to end interim spell with losspublished at 00:37 GMT 26 November

    Adi Viveash clapping the fans on the pitch at the end of the 4-2 loss to CoventryImage source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Adi Viveash will remain at Middlesbrough as part of new head coach Kim Hellberg's staff

    Middlesbrough interim head coach Adi Viveash says he was bitterly disappointed to lose to Coventry City in a meeting of the Championship's top two.

    Boro had fought back from two goals level with the Sky Blues only to concede two late goals to slip to a 4-2 defeat as Coventry opened up a 10-point gap at the top.

    It was a first home league loss of the season, while it was a first defeat in his short interim spell after a win and a draw in the other two games.

    Viveash has been in the role following the exit of Rob Edwards to Premier League Wolves, but he will resume his role in the coaching team after the arrival of Kim Hellberg.

    The Swede begins his duties properly on Thursday, ahead of Boro's game at home to Derby County on Saturday.

    "It was a high-level Championship game," said Viveash.

    "I don't think Coventry disappointed and we more than played our part.

    "We certainly had some strong periods in it, but the key moments didn't go our way. They took advantage of our frailties at times, certainly defensively.

    "You can't concede four goals in any Championship game, never mind against a side as ruthless and attacking as they are.

    "I'm bitterly disappointed, as the players are - as the fans and everybody with a Middlesbrough connection will be."