Middlesbrough

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Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards wants his club's supporters to 'dream' as they sit top of the Championship heading into the international break.

Tommy Conway's goal secured a fourth win out of four for Edwards as they beat Sheffield United in Boro's best start to a season for 1994.

That campaign under Bryan Robson ended in promotion and the ex-Luton boss is hoping for special things at the Riverside.

"I've looked at the group and I've seen a lot of this football club over the years and I know we've got some really good players," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"I know we've introduced a lot of new players as well but we can get this place going, I really believe that.

"Please enjoy it and dream. It's our job to try and give that hope.

"It's also our job to then keep working really hard and get people focused and not carried away with anything either.

"It's a good start but there's 42 games to go. Let's ride the momentum, ride the wave and keep backing each other all the time."

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards said Hayden Hackney is fully focused on the club despite "understandable" speculation about a move to the Premier League.

Hackney was recently deemed 'not for sale' amid reported interest in the 23-year-old midfielder from West Ham and Wolves.

"We love him, the supporters love him, he loves the football club as well," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"He's a brilliant player and all our focus is on tomorrow's game [at home to Sheffield United,] and his focus is on tomorrow's game.

"He's a good player and there's going to be speculation on so many good players at this level from the league above, it's understandable.

"All you've got to do is look at his performance levels, they've been exceptional, and I think that tells you everything about him."

Edwards also revealed Boro are not finished with their own transfer business, with he club in talks to sign Senegalese forward Kaly Sene, 24, from Swiss club Lausanne.

"We're in some talks with him, I can only say that at the moment, but we are in talks with the player," he said.

"There are others we're working on, we're not done yet, there's one or two others."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards believes Saturday's visitors Sheffield United will still present a stern test for his side (12:30 BST) despite a troubled start to their season.

While Boro have won their opening three matches, the Blades - beaten by Sunderland in last season's Championship play-off final - have yet to pick up a point and sit bottom in the early table.

"They're a good team with very good players; I know people look at the results but their performances have been good," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"Just because we've had a half-decent start results wise, nothing changes, it's a really difficult game and I think everyone will understand that.

"My job is to keep everything on a level, it's the fans' job to dream."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough are closing in on a £1.5m deal for 24-year-old Senegalese striker Kaly Sene from Swiss club Lausanne. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

One of the most intriguing games of the weekend takes place at the Riverside on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST) as a fairytale start and a nightmare start converge.

New boss Rob Edwards' Middlesbrough have won all three games and sit joint-top of the early Championship table with Stoke whereas Ruben Selles, the new man in the Sheffield United dugout, has overseen three defeats to leave the Blades bottom of the table with only pointless Oxford United for company.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past eight home league games against Sheffield United (W6 D2), keeping six clean sheets across that stint since a 2-1 defeat in October 1997.

• After winning their last meeting with Middlesbrough 3-1 in February, Sheffield United will be looking to claim successive victories over Boro for the first time since September 2006 (three wins).

• Middlesbrough have won each of their opening three league games this season and will be looking to win their opening four for the first time since 1994-95, a season during which they were promoted to the Premier League.

• Sheffield United have lost each of their opening three league games this season, last losing four in succession to open a campaign outside the top-flight in 1995-96.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their last three league games against sides from Yorkshire, last enduring a longer run against sides from the county between February and April 2022 (four games).

On-loan Middlesbrough left-back Matt Targett has said that joining the club from Newcastle was the right opportunity.

The 29-year-old played just 20 minutes of Premier League football last season and is now hoping to get more minutes on the pitch.

"It's been a couple of years without regular football. Once Middlesbrough came up I thought it was the right opportunity. I want to be back enjoying playing my football again," he said.

Targett has plenty of Premier League experience having spent 14 of his 15 senior seasons in the top flight but said he relishing his chance in the Championship.

"I watch it [the Championship] quite a lot. I kind of know how it can be and how important it is to recover, get yourself right for the next game and keep momentum. I'm excited to be playing in the Championship," he added.

The wing-back has joined the Teessiders on a season-long deal and said he will see what happens once the season is over.

"It's one year and then see what happens. Hopefully I'll play plenty of football. Like I said to the club when I came here, I'm coming here to get promoted with this team. So that's the aim and we'll reassess at the end of the season.

"Looking back over the past few years I think they've just been a little bit short. They've not been short on much. We've got a good squad here and I think we're capable of pushing the top teams."

Since joining Middlesbrough on loan from Manchester City Sverre Nypan says he has enjoyed the first few weeks at the club and looks forward to the season ahead.

The Norweigan featured in Saturday's 2-1 win over Norwich City after replacing Finn Azaz in the 72nd minute to make his debut.

"It was the right time to take the next step, I'm really enjoying myself here," Nypan told BBC Radio Tees.

"I like to be in the middle of the field. I like to be on the ball and create.

"All my life I've played as a midfielder. In Norway you have to be in both boxes, you have to help in the offence and defence.

"I want to keep going with my development and help the team as much as I can. I want to fight for promotion."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney has been deemed not for sale despite interest from the Premier League.

Boro were unable to resist major player sales earlier in the transfer window but after the sales of Rav van den Berg and Josh Coburn for about £12m they have recouped enough to balance the books.

The Championship club intend to hold onto Hackney despite reported interest from West Ham and Everton.

The 23-year-old has started all three opening Championship games this season and has contributed a goal and an assist in the side's perfect start.

West Ham are set to test Middlesbrough's resolve with a bid for 23-year-old midfielder Hayden Hackney, who has already turned down a move to Ipswich this summer. (Northern Echo), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Riverside Stadium opening its doors for the very first time.

Chelsea were the visitors that day upon Boro's return to the top flight, with the hosts coming away 2-0 winners. They went on that season to finish 12th in the Premier League guided by player-manager Bryan Robson.

Jamie Pollock played for Middlesbrough at the time and recalls what a special occasion the opening of the Riverside was.

"The game was absolutely unbelievable and to win 2-0, for me as a local it really was a dream come true," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Middlesbrough moved from Ayresome Park after the Taylor Report banned standing for fans watching football in British stadiums.

Pollock said it took some adjusting for the players and fanbase alike.

"That was our home, that was everything to us - Ayresome Park was a fantastic stadium," he said.

"The Ayresome Park atmosphere was a bit more robust. There was a change. As players we knew that was the start of a new era and it was important but at the same time for me, leaving Ayresome Park was a very difficult thing to do.

"Looking back I just feel so privileged to be able to tell stories about being involved."

In 2025, Middlesbrough have made a fast start to their Championship campaign winning their opening three games and sitting second in the table.

"I think it's a great opportunity this year," said Pollock.

"I think one big investment up front and a bit more strength and depth and I think it could be a great season."

Fan Ian Smith was 10 years old when Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside Stadium.

"The thing I remember mostly is having a bit of nervous excitement. I loved Ayresome Park and even as a 10-year-old I was absolutely be gutted to be leaving," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"You got used to your surroundings at Ayresome Park. It was a ramshackle of a place but it was our place, and [the Riverside] felt otherworldly.

"There's always that cynicism to begin with thinking it won't be the same or [questioning] how are we going to fill the stadium. But it did feel like a fresh start.

"It felt like the club was always a bit of a footnote, a second-tier team, plucky underdogs.

"It was like we had arrived finally."

Listen to the full interviews with Jamie Pollock and Ian Smith and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough are set to complete a double swoop with Newcastle full-back Matt Targett, 29, joining on a season-long loan and Senegalese striker Kaly Sene, 24, being signed from Swiss club Lausanne. (Northern Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.