We Are Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before his side's visit to Southampton on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• George Edmundson's eye has not suffered any structural damage and he's trained this week. Saturday's game will come "too soon" for Dael Fry but Edwards is hopeful he will be available at some point next week.

• Edwards also hopes Darragh Lenihan will be back available in the coming weeks and admits it's been "tough" for the 31-year-old after suffering another injury setback.

• Boro have recorded their best league start in 149 years, a special achievement which builds belief at the club and, Edwards says, makes it easier to battle through any downturns in form that may come.

• Edwards praised his side's versatility and ability to score different kinds of goals. Attacking set-pieces were previously a Boro weakness but hard work in that area has reaped rewards, with four goals from such situations in six games.

• Luke Ayling has slotted into the right centre-back role seamlessly despite normally playing as a full-back and hopes that thriving in the Middlesbrough back-line will prolong his career. Edwards describes Ayling as "a great guy with a fantastic personality".

• There are no plans to appoint one individual as club captain following the departure of Jonny Howson this summer. The armband has been shared by Dael Fry, Aidan Morris and Ayling this season with the aim of promoting more leadership with in the group.

• On coming across former Boro midfielder Finn Azaz: "We're well aware of what he can do." But Edwards said his side will have to be vigilant about the entire Southampton front-line who have lots of quality.

Listen to the full interview with Edwards and more on Middlesbrough on Sounds.

"If you allow [Azaz] to play, he's a good player and he could destroy us so I think somebody needs to get into him and niggle him a little bit.

"Maybe Alan Browne's your man to maybe just go in and fairly challenge him two or three times in the first 10 minutes. I think he might [then] just shrink from the game."

Middlesbrough fan Bob Smedley analyses the club's summer recruitment and previews midfielder Finn Azaz's upcoming confrontation with his former club when Boro visit Southampton on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Smedley identifies Alan Browne as the "unsung signing" of the summer and tips him to be able to handle Azaz, who made 23 league goal contributions for Boro last season.

Listen to the full analysis of Boro's recruitment from fan Bob Smedley on Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Middlesbrough forward Kaly Sene says it was boss Rob Edwards who convinced him to sign for the club in August.

Though the 24-year-old admits he "doesn't like to watch football," he says that he did know about Boro's reputation before signing the paperwork and it was a conversation with Edwards that helped seal his move from Lausanne-Sport.

"I know they were in the Premier League before so it was a big club and is a big club in this moment, so when the coach called me, we had a good conversation. It is because of this I signed here," Sene told BBC Radio Tees.

"I was very happy when he called me and we talked together.

"For me, it's very important to have a coach who believes in you and tries to put you in the best way, helps you to be better. He's doing this not just with me but with all the team."

The Senegalese striker joined Boro having already scored six goals in Switzerland this season and has netted his first for Middlesbrough during their 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Friday.

"The win is most important and then the goal, so if we score and then we win, I will be more happy," he added.

"So for me, it was a very good night and yes, I'm proud to score this first goal at home."

Listen to the full interview with Sene and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards praised his side's resilience as a cornerstone of their victory over West Bromwich Albion.

First Boro goals for forwards David Strelec and Kaly Sene won the game in a match in which West Brom had more possession and more shots.

The three points secured a four-point lead at the top of the Championship as Boro made it 16 points from a possible 18 - the Teesside club's best ever start to a league season.

"It was a really good night for us in the end," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"It was a very tough game as you knew it was going to be. They're a very good team, Ryan's doing a very good job and they have good players, but we showed a lot of resilience tonight and that really pleased me.

"We had to show another side to ourselves. We've got lads still getting up to speed with English football and what we're doing and hopefully we're going to continue to improve as it goes on.

"We've not found our level yet and that is the exciting thing."

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards says there is a "good vibe around the place" following their 2-2 draw at Preston, as his side prepare for Friday's visit of West Bromwich Albion.

Boro currently sit top of the Championship table after going unbeaten in the opening stage of the season, winning four out of five games.

Middlesbrough's visit to Deepdale saw Edwards' men drop points for the first time this season, but it hasn't dampened the "good spirits" around the club.

"There has been a really good vibe around the place," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees. "The lads are in good spirits and long may that continue.

"I have no complaints whatsoever; it has been business as usual and our focus is on what is a really big game, a difficult game tomorrow.

"We value everyone so if someone hasn't played the minutes, I'm not someone that speaks to the 11 that are playing, it is not how things work.

"We value all the lads and we will give them all our time, as much as possible. We will always say hello and shake their hand - the door is always open, they know that."

West Brom's last two wins both came away from home - 3-2 at Wrexham and 1-0 at second-placed Stoke.

Middlesbrough will be missing Riley McGree, who is still out with a hamstring injury, and Dael Fry, who won't recover in time from a calf issue.

"It will be a really difficult game," Edwards added.

"Ryan Mason has done a really good job quickly and West Brom are always strong in this league from my experience of many years of being in and around this sort of level, as a player or managing. West Brom are always strong.

"They have started well with some really good individuals, a very well organised team. You can see a real clear way of how they play, which you would expect.

"I think it will be an exciting game as well. It will be two good teams that are playing with confidence so we are really looking forward to it."

Listen to the full pre-match interview with Edwards and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

"Middlesbrough showed the character to twice come from behind, especially the second time when Preston scored in the 88th minute and you think it's done and dusted."

"The manner of the draw, coming back and getting a draw with a last-minute goal in front of 5,600 away fans, you come away thinking that momentum is still building and the belief is there."

The Northern Echo's Dom Shaw joins Rob Law to look back at Middlesbrough's positive start to the season as they sit top of the Championship. And what does the late-goal drama at Deepdale mean for Boro's unbeaten season going forward?

Listen to the full episode with Dom Shaw and Rob Law and more on BBC Sounds