Middlesbrough: Kim Hellberg trying to maintain ‘perfection’ of first month

In collecting 12 points out of 12 to start his time at Boro, Hellberg has matched the record of Rob Edwards earlier this season.

But Edwards only won three of his next 10 games before his switch to Premier League bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

One notable feature since Hellberg took charge is the blistering starts that Boro have made.

In the last three wins over Hull City, Charlton Athletic and then QPR, they have been at least two up at half-time in all of them, with the first half against the Hoops last Saturday, when they went in 2-0 up, worthy of particular praise.

“The way we play is a lot different from the way they were playing,” said Hellberg.

“That means we have to work with the physics in a different way. You need a different type of movements.

“But if we play 45 minutes like that again (like against QPR), we will not be in this league. That was an unbelievable 45 minutes.

“I would say it would be impossible to play like that over 90 minutes every game, but over time, we’re looking and training to get there.”