![\"Kim](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Sheffield-United-v-Middlesbrough-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKim Hellberg’s verdict on Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United<\/p>\n
23:10, 09 Feb 2026Updated 23:21, 09 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Kim Hellberg, head coach of Middlesbrough, celebrates(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Kim Hellberg called it a \u2018big night\u2019 for Middlesbrough in the race for promotion to the Premier League<\/a>, as they moved top of the Championship with a 2-1 victory at Sheffield United.<\/p>\n Tommy Conway and Riley McGree scored first-half goals, which proved enough for a sixth consecutive league win which helped them leapfrog Coventry City into first place.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big night,\u201d the Boro<\/a> boss said after. \u201cIt was a very tough opponent, away from home, so to get those types of results is great. It\u2019s six wins a row, with three away games that have been won in different ways, and I think that\u2019s really impressive from the group.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the whole game was a brilliant game of football. It was two teams that were going at each other, two teams who tried to be offensive and take the ball off the other team. It was everything that I love with football in terms of that type of game.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the first ten minutes, I think our players were brilliant in terms of the balance of taking the ball forward when they had the opportunity. They were excellent at finding combinations, going behind them and creating a lot of chances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could maybe have scored even more. I will watch it again on the bus home! Especially in the first half, against such a good team, who had won five home games in a row, scoring 15 goals in those games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a brilliant performance. To do that here, against such a good team, was really impressive from the players.\u201d<\/p>\n Boro were two goals to the good at the interval, but were expecting a huge effort from the hosts in the second half, whose last defeat in the league at Bramall Lane was before Hellberg was even appointed.<\/p>\n FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong> Keep up with all the Middlesbrough FC latest via the Gazette’s dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Boro boss was particularly pleased with how his side managed the second half of the game to get over the line, even as Patrick Bamford got one back. That should have made for a nervy ending, but Joe Rothwell\u2019s straight red card killed his side\u2019s hopes of getting a late equaliser.<\/p>\n Hellberg said of the half-time message: \u201cWe talked a bit about being aware of where they were going try to go. I think from my perspective, the first 10-15 minutes of the second half is very good where we have a lot of opportunities to score.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re forced to clear some balls, but we win them outside their box. We maybe don’t get those big chances, but we are around their box a lot. I think there\u2019s one attack where we have three or four shots in the same attack.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don’t get so many opportunities. I think the first is like the after 10-15 minutes because we were very good at killing the game off. Maybe we should have had a little bit more quality and scored that third goal and the game would be gone.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you always know that they’re going to end up creating some opportunities again. They score a lot of goals in the late stages and you have to give it to them – the goal\u2019s brilliant from them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an absolutely brilliant pass from [Gustavo] Hamer to [Patrick] Bamford and Bamford scores a good goal. Then, of course, you know it\u2019s going to be a louder place, and they get a lot of energy.<\/p>\n \u201cBut again, that shows how strong the group is, to manage that, keep it at 2-1 and win the game. I think it was a well-deserved win and I think over 90 minutes we were the better team.”<\/p>\n ———-<\/strong><\/p>\n Here at TeessideLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best<\/strong> Middlesbrough FC<\/strong> <\/a>coverage and analysis.<\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest Boro news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking<\/strong> here<\/strong> <\/a>to subscribe.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your information will be hidden, you’ll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you\u2019re curious, you<\/strong> can read our Privacy Notice<\/strong> <\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n