Are Middlesbrough early pacemakers or real deal under Edwards?

Middlesbrough have made their best league start for 31 years

Over the course of the international break, Middlesbrough fans would have been forgiven for taking a quiet moment - possibly lots of them - to gaze at the Championship table in a mix of wonder and sheer joy.

Four matches played, four matches won. Their best league start for 31 years. Sitting top of the pile in the second tier. Rob Edwards named manager of the month.

Excitement is growing on Teesside and, as such, 5,600 Boro fans are heading across the A66 for the Saturday lunchtime game at Preston North End to see if Edwards' team can keep this 100% start going.

But is this just a flash in the pan before the expected favourites hit their straps or is there substance to Edwards' team that will keep them up there?

Open Edwards gaining admirers

The last time Boro began a league campaign winning their first four games was 1994-95. It was the last season at Ayresome Park and the first under Bryan Robson.

That turned out to be a special one as they ended up winning the old Division One to claim the sole automatic promotion spot and was the start of a glorious period of cup finals and European campaigns as they headed to their new home at the Riverside.

That is what new head coach Edwards is competing against, although in his first few weeks at the club, he has made a tremendous impression.

Replacing Michael Carrick in the summer, the former Luton Town boss' openness and honesty is winning many admirers.

"After they won the first game 1-0, Rob was on the pitch celebrating," says Mark Drury, BBC Radio Tees' Middlesbrough commentator.

"A lot loved it, but a few thought it was a bit over the top. But people are starting to see that's the real him. He cares and he is happy to show his emotions.

"He seems very genuine. When you speak to him, you feel like you're talking to the real person. He's been a breathe of fresh air."

Rob Edwards won promotion as boss at Forest Green and Luton

The fresh air was needed after Boro and Carrick's separation during the close season.

A relationship that began with such promise in 2022 had fizzled out, especially during a fairly miserable campaign last year.

Inside the top six heading into 2025, they collected just 27 points from the last 22 games, which culminated with a meek defeat at Coventry City on the final day to miss out on the play-offs and finish 10th.

Questions persisted about the style of play or more, Carrick's refusal to budge from his possession-based game, even when opponents looked to have worked out how to stop Boro's Plan A.

Edwards has switched from four at the back to three with two wing-backs and a stellar midfield pair of Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris.

But as much as a tactical switch, former Boro midfielder Neil Maddison, a promotion-winner with the club in 1998, believes that there has been a noticeable shift in attitude.

"The formation suits us, but the work rate off the ball has been so good, they're willing to get the ball back as quickly as possible," he said.

"There has been a real step-up in personnel and work rate that we haven't seen for some time.

"Last season wasn't enjoyable. We played one style but you have to find a way to get results.

"Now you can see the partnerships starting to develop across the team. Every game we've played, we've improved."

Productive and profitable window

Slovakia striker David Strelec will be in contention for his Middlesbrough debut at Preston

Boro bided their time in the transfer window, not signing a player for the first-team squad until Alfie Jones joined from Hull City at the end of July.

But then head of recruitment Kieran Scott got busy as key players from last season in midfielder Finn Azaz and Dutch defender Rav van den Berg were both sold for big money, with that reinvested across the squad, bringing greater depth and quality.

However, local lad and England Under-21 midfielder Hackney remained at the club despite strong interest from Championship side Ipswich Town.

While the arrival on deadline day of Slovakia striker David Strelec has caused excitement, magnified by him scoring and setting one for his national team as they defeated Germany in a World Cup qualifier.

"It was a long wait for Michael Carrick to leave, then it was a long wait for his successor and then a long wait for the signings, but then they came in a rush," said Drury.

"Boro have come out of the window with a very strong squad and in a much better position - despite key sales - and a net profit.

"Strelec's signing only adds to the buzz from inside and outside the club. Kieran Scott told me that one week later Boro probably wouldn't have been able to afford him after he scored against Germany because his price would have gone up."

Last season three Boro players hit double figures in the league for goals in top scorer Tommy Conway (13), one clear of Azaz and two more than Emmanuel Latte Lath, who headed to the MLS in January.

So the pressure will be on Strelec and other attacking reinforcements like Sontje Hansen and on-loan Manchester City player Sverre Nypan to compensate for the loss of those goals.

This time last year, Boro's north east rivals Sunderland were the surprise early leaders with four wins from four under then unknown Frenchman Regis Le Bris.

But the men from Wearside kept the momentum going all season, in a campaign which ended with promotion glory at Wembley in the play-off final.

So what chance of Middlesbrough doing something similar?

Since the Championship was rebranded in 2004-05, eight teams - including Sunderland - have won their opening four matches: Southampton (2011-12), Derby (2011-12), Cardiff (2017-18), Ipswich (2017-18), Reading (2020-21), Bristol City (2020-21) and Leicester (2023-24).

Beyond the Black Cats progressing via the play-offs, only Southampton, Cardiff and Leicester earned promotion as that trio finished in the automatic positions.

Other clubs like Blackburn (2022-23), West Bromwich Albion (2021-22) and Nottingham Forest (2019-20) enjoyed bright autumns under new bosses.

Yet none of those sides even finished the seasons in the top six, but they did not have a head coach with Championship promotion on their CV like Edwards.

This is a ninth campaign outside the Premier League for Boro and there have only been two play-off finishes since, so they are competing against clubs with bigger budgets buffeted by parachute payments.

But for a seasoned observer like Maddison, there are genuine reasons for optimism.

"It's early doors, but with each game, I see each player getting better and delivering what the manager is asking," he said.

"They're obviously listening to Rob and working well on the training pitch and fitness levels have gone through the roof.

"We have a manager who is desperate to do well and at the moment we look a solid side. We just look a good side."