Kim Hellberg ‘very impressed’ by Middlesbrough in victory at Sheffield United

Kim Hellberg praised a “very, very impressive” performance from his Middlesbrough team following a 2-1 win at Sheffield United which saw them overhaul Coventry at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.

Tommy Conway and Riley McGree scored for the visitors in the first half, with Patrick Bamford pulling a goal back for the hosts midway through the second period.

Blades midfielder Joe Rothwell, on his debut, was shown a red card 10 minutes from time following a reckless challenge on Alan Browne.

Hellberg said: “I think the whole game was a brilliant game of football.

“I think it was two teams that were going at each other, two teams that tried to be offensive, two teams that tried to take the ball from the other team.

“I think that was everything that I love with football in terms of that type of game.

“And I think after the first 10 minutes our players were unbelievable in balancing, taking the ball forward when there was opportunity, finding combinations, going behind them and creating a lot of chances that we could have scored even more maybe. 



“To do that performance against a very, very good team here under lights was impressive from the players. 


“A big night and a very tough one, away from home to get those type of results, to get six in a row.

“And in there having three away games that have been won in different ways, I think that’s very, very impressive from the group.

“Again, for us it will be the same thing tomorrow. We’ll try to get better, try to develop, learn from it. That’s what it’s all about. It’s 15 games left, but we’ll go again.”

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was disappointed with his side’s failure to build on a promising start, while first of all praising the opposition.

He said: “I’ve got to say, the best team we’ve played all season, in the spell that I’ve been here, by quite a long shot.

“The start was good, we had opportunities. I’d imagine for the neutral, especially the start, it was ridiculous in how the game started.

“We were really on the front foot, knowing that they’ve got dangerous players. We committed to the press, tried to get after them, tried to break the rhythm up.”


Wilder had no complaints about Rothwell’s sending-off, adding: “It may be a bit of frustration, maybe not playing football for the early part of the season and wanting to make his mark, but it’s a mistimed tackle.

“I’ve got no issue with the decision off the back of that and he’s got his head in his hands straight away and in the changing room afterwards.”