Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough may need to retake their top position on the table when they make the trip to Wrexham on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Boro could be displaced by Swansea City if the Swans find success against Portsmouth on Tuesday.

But if the Welsh side fail to find a point, the league leaders will have the chance to extend their lead out of striking distance for the weekend.

Though Wrexham's campaign hasn't been the promotion charge they were hoping for so far and they will be looking to make a splash against top competitors.

• Both league meetings between Wrexham and Middlesbrough last season ended level, the only previous league games played between the sides.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their six meetings with Wrexham in all competitions (D2 L2), though one of those came in this season's League Cup first round (1-0).

• Having won five consecutive away league games against Welsh sides between February 2023 and August 2024, Middlesbrough are winless in their last three visits (D2 L1). Both games last season ended in 2-2 draws (vs Swansea and Wrexham).

• Following their 4-1 win against Preston last month, Wrexham are looking to win consecutive home league games for the first time since February.

• Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last 12 away league games (W5 D6), going down 2-1 at Blackburn in August.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5Live reporter at the Riverside

Image source, Shutterstock

With so much already said about Will Lankshear's form this season, it's a little hard to know what to add as his goals tally accelerates at a rate of knots seldom seen in the second tier.

Comparisons to a young Harry Kane are understandable because of his time at Spurs and his willingness to progress his career in the EFL.

But Lankshear is more than finding his way - he's flourishing - and there's an aura about his presence in Middlesbrough's attack that's impossible to ignore.

His latest two goals came as the league leaders played with astute authority against Charlton, if not at their best, ahead of two away games in the coming week.

And they were good goals too - a clever clip over the goalkeeper for his first and a powerful accurate 20-yard effort for his second. Both goals labelled him as a supremely confident and agile striker.

Accuracy is the key word with the Boro number seven.

Lankshear appears to possess great positional sense and distinct awareness of where the goal is and what he needs to do with a particular attempt - the mark of all great strikers. There was little hesitation when presented with his two big chances on Saturday.

Fifteen goals in all competitions is an outstanding number to have reached before the end of October and Middlesbrough look to have quelled any concerns that they cannot be in this promotion race for the long haul.

They are exciting, creative and solid at the back - and in Lankshear they have a young Englishman surely destined to get senior international recognition in the not-too-distant future.

Middlesbrough midfielder Sebastian Berhalter spoke to BBC Radio Tees after the win against Charlton. For a written selection of his quotes, click here

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough have announced head of football Kieran Scott and and head of recruitment Chris Jones have signed new "long-term contracts" to continue at the club.

Scott was appointed as head of football in August 2021 and was the key man in replacing Rob Edwards with current head coach Kim Hellberg when the former left for Wolverhampton Wanderers last November.

Jones, meanwhile, has impressed supporters with the signings he has helped bring in through the door at the Riverside Stadium this summer.

Boro signed 12 new players, including defender Ashley Phillips and striker Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur, goalkeeper Radek Vitek from Manchester United, as well as Amario Cozier-Duberry on a season-long loan from Brighton, who have all made a big impact as the club currently sit top of the Championship.

The club also confirmed the appointment of Paul Watson as their new chief technical officer having arrived from Brentford.

"I'm delighted to sign a new contract and along with Chris we are excited about the future," Scott said.

"Bringing Paul in is a real coup for us. His focus is on the technical and data side of things, and he comes here with a successful background at Luton, Swansea and Brentford."

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough will aim to at least maintain their two-point lead at the top of the Championship when they host free-falling Charlton on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro's 5-1 win at Bolton took them top before defeats for closest challengers Swansea and West Ham but they return to the Riverside where they have won only one of their past three games.

The Addicks are 19th after taking just one point from their past four away games and are now winless in nine league games overall, failing to score in four of them.

• Middlesbrough have won 10 of their past 14 league games against Charlton Athletic (D2 L2), keeping six clean sheets across the past 10.

• Charlton Athletic won this exact fixture 1-0 last season and will be looking for successive away league wins over Middlesbrough for the first time since April 1965.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their past 10 league games (W6 D4). They last had a longer run between March and August 2016 (13), and last did so within the same season in 2011-12 (unbeaten in first 11).

• Having won their first three league games this season, Charlton are now winless in nine (D5 L4). The only team in English Football League history to win their opening three games and then have a 10-game winless run are Blackburn Rovers in 1986-87.

• Middlesbrough have scored 27 goals across their opening 12 league games this season, last netting more at this stage of a campaign in 1959-60 (30).

We asked for your thoughts after Middlesbrough thrashed Bolton 5-1 to rise to the top of the Championship on Friday.

Here are some of your comments:

Bolton Wanderers fans

Paul: We were totally outclassed. Boro were much faster, better organised and basically a much better team where every player knew their role in the team. An excellent effort.

Andy: Beaten by a far better team. No complaints. Middlesbrough looked very good.

Ross: To survive in the Championship, Bolton need a first rate coaching staff, which they do not have at the present time. Far too leaky defensively and inadequate firepower up front. Beg Allardyce to take over.

Image source, Shutterstock

Middlesbrough fans

Andrew: I particularly appreciated Lankshear's interview. He showed grace, humility and due deference to the manager. With this team, this manager (and of course never forgetting the wonderful Steve Gibson) we should soon be Premier League and stay there.

John: A performance that would not be out of place in any league. Some of the passing and movement was a joy to watch.

Cliff: One word - brilliant.

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg spoke to BBC Radio Tees after they thumped Bolton Wanderers 5-1 to go top of the Championship.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Bolton and Middlesbrough meet for the first time in seven years on Friday night (20:00 BST).

Boro come into the game on a 10-match unbeaten run while Bolton recovered from losing at home to 10-man Stoke by winning at Wolves and becoming the first side to deny Southampton at home with a 0-0 draw at St Mary's last weekend.

• Bolton have lost their past four home league games against Middlesbrough, twice as many defeats as across their prior 27 meetings combined between September 1951 and January 2014.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past eight league games against Bolton Wanderers; it is their longest winning run against a side in their Football League history.

• Bolton have lost just one of their past five league games (W3 D1), picking up as many points (10) as in their previous 12 league matches (W2 D4 L6).

• Middlesbrough have struck 22 goals across their opening 11 Championship matches this season, their most at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87 in the third tier and their most in the second tier since 1963-64 (27).

• Middlesbrough lead the Championship this season for build-up attacks (48) and passes per sequence (4.2), while only Cardiff City (9.8) have a lower PPDA value than their 9.9.

We asked for Boro fans' thoughts after Middlesbrough came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Cardiff at The Riverside.

Boss Kim Hellberg rested leading scorer Will Lankshear and Seb Berhalter before introducing both at half-time with the hosts trailing 2-0 - but despite fighting back to claim a point, Boro missed the chance to go top of the table.

Here are some of your comments:

Nick: All down to KH, why did he go for Joseph and Ayling to start? If it's not broke, don't fix it!

Richie: I am enjoying the belief the attackers have and, let's face it, they have saved or gained points in four games in the dying minutes. Boro will not be top two if they don't start learning lessons and showing progress. A very poor manager's decision has cost Boro points at home. Why rest the league's best striker 10 games in? Malanda Is NOT a midfielder. Third, why continue playing out from the back when midfield lose the ball cheaply? Fourth question is why have a defence if they are not chasing back and putting in a tackle.

Mo: Why did Kim change a winning team? He obviously underestimated Cardiff by giving Will a match off!! Malanda is better in the back four and not in midfield. Sorry Kim but this was your fault!

Malcolm: Manager Kim has worked wonders to get Boro competing this season but too much fiddling with selection cost us two points today. Playing a centre back in midfield and not starting the leading striker in our league were mistakes. I should also like to mention that Brynn should start in goal. The new signing is certainly not a improvement on Sol.

Jamie: Malanda is one of the best centre backs in the division - he needs to play there and not in midfield. I love Ayling, but he shouldn't be in the starting XI. Rest Lankshear by all means, but let him give us a lead first, then sub him. That said, this could be a very handy point come the end of the season - Cardiff are far better than their league position would suggest.

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough will seek to go top of the Championship, for a few hours at least, as they welcome Cardiff to the Riverside on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Boro overcame Wolves at home last Saturday before a last-gasp 3-2 win at Stoke to sit second, two points behind Swansea, who face third-placed West Ham at 15:00 BST.

The Bluebirds are 19th, two points above the drop zone, after winning two of their past three games, thumping Watford 5-1 at home on Tuesday night, but have lost their past four games on the road.

• Middlesbrough have only lost one of their past 10 league games against Cardiff City (W6 D3), a 2-3 home defeat in September 2022.

• Cardiff have lost four of their past five league meetings with Middlesbrough, although did draw 1-1 at the Riverside most recently in January 2025.

• For the second season in succession, Middlesbrough find themselves on exactly 21 points after their opening 10 games of a campaign, matching their best start since 1995-96.

• Cardiff have won two of their past three Championship matches (L1), as many victories as across their prior 24 combined in the second tier (D11 L11).

• This season across all competitions, Middlesbrough's Will Lankshear has struck 10 goals, one of only two players to hit double figures for a side in England's top four tiers, alongside Manchester City's Erling Haaland (also 10).

Middlesbrough are getting better and better, according to head coach Kim Hellberg.

The Teessiders stretched their unbeaten run to eight games in the Championship with a 3-2 win at Stoke on Tuesday night to remain second in the table.

"It felt like it could have been a smoother ride but again it's the mentality when it goes to 2-2 then going on to win it," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"You could see in the game when they scored we go and push again and it was clear we were chasing to win the game. Without a doubt it was a fair result - we are starting to get better and better."

Middlesbrough beat Wolves 1-0 on Saturday and Hellberg saluted his side's resilience for following-up that victory with Tuesday's win.

"The performance as a whole was a top one, to go away against a team with five wins and a draw in their past six games is very impressive," he added.

"You play a game on Saturday against Wolves which means so much to everyone, playing against a team that has come down from the Premier League.

"Then you go to Stoke against a team who haven't lost in six and put up that sort of performance, that is brilliant from the boys."

Listen to more Middlesbrough interviews and content on BBC Sounds.