In early November, Middlesbrough fans began to feel fear.

Rob Edwards, arguably the catalyst for their best start to the Championship season, has been lured south by Wolves.

A desperate search ensued for his replacement, someone who could carry on the momentum.

Two weeks later, Kim Hellberg arrived. Not only has he restored momentum, he’s taken Boro to the next level.

Monday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.

Starts at 8:01 p.m.

While Edwards’s Middlesbrough were a compact and loyal unit, Heilberg’s were more spacious and expressive. In his first four games in charge, the team won and scored 11 goals.

They took just one point from their next four games over Christmas and failed to score in each of their festive games.

But when they visited Southampton in early January, they scored four goals in the second half and made it five consecutive wins.

“I know Kim Helberg well enough to know that he’s not the type of coach to panic.” sky sports Expert Tommy Smith, also a loan manager in Middlesbrough, said. “He really wasn’t. There were no results in the games I was in, but the show was always there.”

“There were times when Middlesbrough were unlucky not to score, but the structure of the team was always in place and there was no panic. Then you got a 4-0 win over Southampton, which showed the level of performance. That way of winning really set the stage for the second half of the season for Middlesbrough.”

Many thought Middlesbrough might be pushed out of the top two by Ipswich Town, but they now look capable of usurping Coventry and claiming the title.

Helberg praises incredible run

The manager himself is delighted with how things have progressed since his arrival, especially given the stylistic changes he made mid-season.

“Nine wins in 13 games is an unbelievable win,” he told us sky sports before traveling to Sheffield United on Monday night. We scored a lot of goals and scored a lot of points. I am very proud of what we have achieved together and how the team has performed.

“When you move abroad for the first time you never quite know what to expect until you experience it first hand, especially over the Christmas period. Looking back, I’m proud of how the way I wanted to play translated to the players and how they expressed themselves.

“What I’m most proud of is the way we changed the style of play in the middle of the season. From the previous coach to me, almost every number you see is very different. It’s not a matter of right or wrong, it’s just a different way of playing.”

“When I came we were still in a good position but now we are doing things in a different way. We try to be an attacking, aggressive team. We want to take the game into our own hands and believe in ourselves and trust our feet, not the opponent.”

“We’ve gone from being a team with the most possession to being the team with the most possession, from creating fewer chances to creating the most chances in the air and scoring the most goals. Possession alone doesn’t win games, but it’s about how we believe we can have the most success.”

“He’s committed to making us a better team”

One of the players who has embodied the spirit of Middlesbrough this season is forward Tommy Conway.

He wasn’t always a prolific scorer, but his effort and effort were invaluable in Helberger’s system.

“He had a huge impact on me in a short period of time, both in my football and in my day-to-day life,” Conway told Sky Sports. “I feel like I’ve come a long way and I can’t thank him enough.

“When he came in, he said we did a lot of good things and he just wanted to add something. That’s exactly what he did. Even though we won two games on the bounce, he was still picking little areas where we could improve. He’s committed to making us better as a team and as individuals, and I can’t speak highly of him.

“The togetherness and camaraderie within the team is unbelievable. A lot of the lads said it was the best for them and that tells you what kind of team we have. It’s a special team and when we go on the pitch we fight for each other.

“The manager has come in and implemented his style and personality and the lads want to play for him. To me, they are like my brothers. I want to fight and win for them, the fans, the staff – everyone at the club. Being partners makes it extra special too.”

‘He has brought about clear development’

Sky Sports’ Andy Hinchcliffe:

“With Rob’s departure there is no shortage of managers keen to take on Championship clubs with this squad and position.

“Middlesbrough took a lot of time to find the right guy. If you look at the way Helberger’s Hammarby team played, they were very proactive, aggressive and wanted to have the ball. That’s what he brings to Middlesbrough and the improvement that Rob has made while he’s there.

“They need to be more aggressive going forward and that’s what they’ve been doing. The change of coach has given them momentum rather than uncertainty and it looks like progress.

“The dressing room looks very close and Helberg has embraced that. Finding the right coach, the right style and the right group of players created the perfect blend.”