The Tigers host Boro under the MKM Stadium lights on Friday evening
New Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg admits he’s been impressed by what he’s seen from Hull City as the Swede prepares for his first road trip in charge of the Teessiders.
Hellberg, who watched his new charges come from behind to beat Derby County 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, says the Tigers are brave and positive in their approach.
Like Boro, the Tigers had to fight back from a goal down at the weekend to beat Stoke City and end their two-game losing run and move them back to within a point of the top six, while their visitors to the MKM Stadium are second.
City have been one of the Championship’s entertainers so far, with only runaway leaders Coventry City scoring more than the 30 Sergej Jakirovic’s men have, and their upward trajectory has also surprised many.
“I watched Hull before our game against Stoke. I also try to watch every Championship game there is, so I’ve seen Ipswich three or four times now because they play Blackburn and Oxford,” Hellberg said on the eve of the trip to East Yorkshire.
“If you watch their [Hull’s] performance against Stoke away, it was a brilliant game from them, especially in the second half. They are doing some very good things.
“I try to watch as many games as I can; it makes it very interesting. I watched that game. I think Hull struggled a bit in the first half, then did a very good second half.
“I think they’re a good, brave team that wants to be aggressive, that plays the ball on the ground. They want to press, they want to go forward, they are stepping out of the lines.
“They have a top player in (Joe) Gelhardt who’s scored a lot of goals in transitions, but also with the ball. Brave team, a lot of good players, good quality.
“I think it will be a very good game, so I’m looking forward to playing the game and looking forward to seeing the fans. I’ve heard they are amazing away from home, so that would be a fun game.”
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