Middlesbrough

"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.

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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."

Image source, Middlesbrough FC

Middlesbrough confirmed the appointment of Kim Hellberg as their new head coach on Monday.

The 37-year-old has replaced Rob Edwards, who left to join Wolves earlier this month.

Are fans happy with the appointment? Here are the views of some of those who got in touch with us:

Andrew: Bringing in what is only Boro's second ever foreign manager seems a bit of a gamble, but I feel optimistic that someone with a track record of attacking football might be just what we need.

Joe: Middlesbrough have needed a manager who wants to play attacking football for years. Worst case scenario - another year in the Championship with a transfer window for a manager who knows what he needs. Best case scenario - Premier League!

John: Boro and Steve Gibson have been struggling in the Championship for a long time. Doing the same thing and expecting things to change is madness. Hellberg is high risk for both Boro and himself. They are second and anything less than the play-offs will be considered a failure. Hellberg is young, his reputation is high but failing at Boro could be career-defining. Embrace the risk.

Jonathan: From a Hammarby fan. We played some incredible football under Kim and the win away at Malmo in October was described by some pundits as the best performance seen in Sweden's Allsvenskan. We only lost the league to the team who beat the all-time points record by six points. I'm very confident he will succeed at Middlesbrough and will appreciate the fan base.

Ross: Very bold choice by Boro and very sensible. But we've got to give him time. Would be great if he could help us land promotion this year.

Liam: The fans need to back him. He's had success elsewhere and although he has no experience in the EFL, we still have Adi Viveash who hopefully will guide him and teach him.

Veronica: Hellberg is definitely the man for the job. I've got total faith in him and if the players listen then we've got this.

Kim Hellberg has been chosen to succeed Rob Edwards and take over Middlesbrough's promotion charge.

The 37-year-old secured two consecutive top-flight second-place finishes with Swedish side Hammarby.

Taking charge of Boro will mark Hellberg's first venture in the English Football League.

Do you think the Swede is the right call to book Middlesbrough a place in next season's Premier League?

What are you expecting from your new boss?

Let us know your thoughts here.

This is the one we have been waiting for as the top two come face-to-face on Teesside.

Coventry's stirring 3-2 win over West Brom on Saturday, coupled with Middlesbrough being held to a 1-1 draw at Oxford means the Sky Blues hold a seven-point advantage over their opponents at the top of the Championship.

• Middlesbrough are winless in their past six league games against Coventry (D1 L5), losing each of the past four in a row.

• Coventry have won their past two away league games against Middlesbrough, more than they had in their previous 14 visits between 1982 and 2023 (W1 D6 L7).

• Middlesbrough have lost just one of their past 13 home league games (W9 D3) and are unbeaten in nine at the Riverside Stadium since a 1-0 loss against Leeds in April.

• Coventry have scored 21 goals in their eight away league games this season, just three fewer than they managed in the whole of last season on the road (24 in 23 games).

• Coventry's Haji Wright has been involved in four goals in his four league appearances against Middlesbrough (3 goals, 1 assist), with three of those coming at the Riverside Stadium.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough are poised to confirm Kim Hellberg as their new manager.

The 37-year-old is due to join from Swedish side Hammarby and replace Rob Edwards following his move to Wolves.

Boro have been finalising Hellberg's work permit and he is not expected to take charge of Tuesday's Championship top-of-the-table visit of leaders Coventry, with caretaker Aidy Viveash again due to lead Boro.

Middlesbrough are second in the table, seven points behind the Sky Blues after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oxford.

Hellberg took Hammarby to second-placed finishes in the Swedish top flight during his two seasons in charge.

Ex-Wolves first-team coach Ian Burchnall is in the running to replace Hellberg.

Burchnall, a former Forest Green and Notts County manager, has previously managed in Scandinavia having taken charge of Viking in Norway and Ostersunds in Sweden, when he succeeded Graham Potter in 2018.

Burchnall had been working with Jamaica under Steve McClaren for their last six World Cup qualifiers before McClaren stood down last week following the Reggae Boyz's failure to seal automatic qualification.

Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash felt his team lacked quality at crucial moments of their draw at Oxford United.

Viveash told BBC Tees: "The reality is that certainly in attacking areas, we didn't have enough of the quality moments, we didn't have the final action, final pass, cross, finish.

"Some key moments went against us and in the Championship you need certain things to go your way, especially away from home.

"It was a great goal (by Morgan) - unfortunately we had two or three more (opportunities) where we were in the same position and just missed the cross, one got pulled behind TC (Tommy Conway).

"Nineteen shots, three on target, that number needs to be higher if you're going to win a Championship game."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

New Wolves boss Rob Edwards knows he let Middlesbrough down but insisted he had to move to Molineux.

The 42-year-old swapped promotion chasing Boro in the Championship for a return to relegation-threatened Wolves.

They are bottom of the Premier League with just two points from 11 games and have not won in the top flight for over six months.

Edwards left Boro five months after being appointed with the Riverside club second in the Championship.

But, having played 111 times for Wolves and coached the under-18s, under-23s and the first team, Edwards could not turn the move down.

He said: "This opportunity and this job is something I've always wanted and dreamed of. I'm well aware I was at a really good football club - I want to be really respectful to Middlesbrough and I know I would have let them down.

"I get it and I understand that. But this is something I've always wanted to do. I didn't want to live with regret. I've got to live my own life.

"I didn't know if this opportunity would come up again for me to be the head coach of this club. I didn't want to look back in 10, 15, 20 years' time [and see] that I turned down chance to manage Wolves in the Premier League.

"I've got to try to enjoy my life and take some risks. We're not around for long, are we? I didn't want to look back and think: 'Maybe I should have given that a go.'

"So yeah, that's why I've done it. I know it's going to be a big challenge but I'm just well up for it."

Edwards is preparing for his first game in charge at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday as Wolves look to win their first league game of the season.

He added: "There's no perfect job in football. I know the scale of the task. But I'm also really excited by the challenge and have got full belief in group."

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Middlesbrough fan Matty Proudman says that Boro appointing Kim Hellberg as their new head coach would be "a brave, bold move" but one he is excited for.

"As football fans, we always look at what they've done previously and make your own judgements on it, so that's why it's a clever move from Steve Gibson. It's only positive from the previous, he hasn't got any negative," Proudman told BBC Radio Tees.

"With where we are as a club, second in the league, challenging for the Premier League, he's [Gibson] been really clever and astute with what he's done.

"He's [Hellberg] only 37 but he's been in football a long time. He must be the most Googled man on Teeside, there's no doubt about it."

As for what playing style Hellberg could bring to the side upon his arrival, Proudman is unsure - but it's that which has him hoping for a good outcome.

"A foreign coach - something different, different styles, different methods. A lot of these coaches, they all want to play the same type of stuff. The 'Pepball', play out from the back and absolutely kill it," Proudman added.

"You don't know what you are going to get with him. It's a total unknown and I love the fact you don't know what he's going to do."

Listen to the full reaction and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

While Middlesbrough await the arrival of potential new head coach Kim Hellberg, interim boss Adi Viveash will look for a second successive win as they make the trip down to Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Despite the drama of former boss Rob Edwards' move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Boro took victory last time out to see them within the top two.

Now they face an Oxford side lingering dangerously close to the relegation line and desperate not to concede a third straight loss.

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their last 10 league games against Middlesbrough (D2 L8), losing the last five in a row.

• Middlesbrough have won four of their last five away league games against Oxford (D1), scoring 18 goals across those five games, including a 6-2 win last season.

• Oxford manager Gary Rowett has won four of his 15 Championship meetings with Middlesbrough (D6 L5) with all four wins coming against a different manager – Garry Monk (3-0 with Derby in November 2017), Neil Warnock (1-0 with Millwall in March 2021), Leo Percovich (2-0 with Millwall in October 2022) and Michael Carrick (1-0 with Millwall in August 2023).

• Middlesbrough have won 29 points in 15 Championship games this season (W8 D5 L2), their best tally at this stage since 2015-16 when they had 30 points and later finished 2nd under Aitor Karanka.

• Only Wrexham's George Dobson (43) has made more tackles in the Championship this season than Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris (39) – he has also won the most fouls of any player in 2025-26 (39).

Image source, Getty Images

Adi Viveash says he has been "humbled" by the support he has received inside and outside the club during his spell as Middlesbrough's interim head coach.

Viveash took over team affairs when Rob Edwards was granted permission to speak to Wolverhampton Wanderers before accepting their offer to become manager.

Viveash led Boro to victory over Birmingham City at home with loud backing from the club's supporters and he will be in charge again for the trip to Oxford United on Saturday.

The Teesside club are set to appoint Swede Kim Hellberg as Edwards' replacement pending work permit clearance, but they have an experienced hand to guide them in the meantime in Viveash.

"I'm very appreciative of the support. It's very humbling," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Viveash was assistant to Mark Robins at Coventry City for seven years and before that he worked at Chelsea's academy, but it is the first time the 56-year-old has been in charge of a senior team.

And having had a season out between Coventry and his arrival at Boro in the summer with Edwards, he is appreciating the chance at the Riverside.

"I'm just somebody who's had an ability to help players and I love coaching," he said.

"I love working with players on the grass. I had 11 months out of the game so I've certainly cherished every moment of this last week because it's been really interesting and I've really enjoyed it.

"When you're out of the game, those are the times you miss - on the training ground with the players, trying to get that extra 1% out of them.

"So it's humbling, I'm working at a fantastic club for an outstanding chairman."

"It's the type of appointment Boro haven't really made before. They've had an overseas manager, they've had unproven coaches stepping up to be a head coach, but what they haven't really done before is taken a manager who is young, ambitious, making a name for himself overseas and brought him over to be a head coach in the Championship.

"While this feels like a step into the unknown, and it is to a degree, it's also a path other clubs have trod really successfully. The hope among fans is he'll come in and build on the good work Rob Edwards has done at the start of the season.

"He's coming into a club which has started really well, with a good squad in place, can he now get them to kick-on and make sure they challenge for promotion?"

BBC Radio Tees' Rob Law talks to Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo about Boro's potential new head coach Kim Hellberg.

Click here to listen to the interview and more Boro content via BBC Sounds.

"Naturally there's disappointment because of how well we're doing. We're second in the division, everything's seems to be going the right way and then you get that news, Rob leaves... how do you react to it? It's about what's next for the club.

"There's a few clubs in the league all looking for managers. Middlesbrough is a bit of a unique situation because of the way the manager has left. I am sure there's been a thorough process in terms of getting the right man for the job.

"Whoever comes in has an unbelievable opportunity in terms of the position to come in and take us to the next step.

"Whatever has happened with Rob, he's put the club and team into a great position."

Middlesbrough's new loans manager Tommy Smith and Chelmsford striker Lyle Taylor join Aaron Paul to discuss the week's EFL headlines on the BBC's 72+ podcast.

Among a host of topics they dissect the latest managerial situation at Middlesbrough, with Kim Hellberg expected to be the new man in the dugout following Rob Edwards' departure to Wolves.

Click here to listen to the full episode via BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough defender Alfie Jones made his senior debut for Canada in a 2-0 friendly win over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale.

The 28-year-old Bristol-born centre-back, who qualifies for Canada through his grandmother who was born in Alberta, played the full 90 minutes.

Canada have qualified automatically for next year's World Cup finals as joint hosts alongside the USA and Mexico.

Jones will return to Championship action with Middlesbrough at Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 GMT) having been suspended for their 2-1 win over Birmingham City just before the international break.