[themaclad]

Photo Arne Museler

https://www.mfc.co.uk/

MANAGER

Kim Alexander Hellberg (born 1 February 1988) is a Swedish professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of EFL Championship club Middlesbrough.

He played as a midfielder in Sweden's lower divisions and began coaching during his playing career. In 2018, he led IF Sylvia to promotion to the third-tier Ettan. He was appointed assistant manager of Allsvenskan club IFK Norrköping in 2020, and at the end of the following year was named in his first top-flight head coach job at IFK Värnamo. He led Hammarby IF to consecutive runners-up positions in 2024 and 2025.

FORM



BORO 13 PNE 8

Dip in form at the moment, whilst Boro seem to be buying players like it's going out of fashion.

THE BOSS

Paul Heckingbottom is expecting an entertaining encounter ahead of Preston North End’s trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

PNE led twice when the two sides met earlier this season but were ultimately forced to settle for a draw.

After defeat against Hull City last time out, the Lilywhites’ boss is hoping for a positive reaction from his squad next time out.

“The reaction to the second half's performance is important to me,” said Hecky.

“That can't guarantee a result, but I've said many times I just want to enjoy what I see and be really proud of how we perform and how we play.”

Brad Potts entered the field of play with 15 minutes left to play against Hull but was forced off after going down with an injury.

Speaking ahead of our trip to the Riverside, Hecky provided an update on the 31-year-old’s situation.

“Just a knee issue, so hopefully we can settle that down quickly,” revealed the manager.

“Nothing that we're too concerned about. We'll get a second opinion on it. It could result in a little clean-up of his knee, which would put him out for a few weeks.

“It could be a little bit less if everyone's happy with it. We'll just let the symptoms settle down.”


Heading into the contest, Middlesbrough sit second in the Championship standings, trailing league leaders Coventry City by just six points.

North End’s boss believes that the match should be an entertaining one and hopes that PNE’s travelling support can provide his team with an excellent atmosphere once again.

“We'll prepare for them at their best,” stated Hecky. “It's really clear how he's set his team up and to prepare for that is good. I think it's going to be an entertaining game.

“Our away support has been fantastic and it's another good venue to go to.

“The atmosphere will be good anyway. They're getting right behind their new manager and with them being at the top it's a good atmosphere over at the Riverside.

“It'll be a good one for our fans to enjoy regardless, so hopefully if we can get the result and performance to match, then everyone's happy.”

[themaclad]

Team News​
Brad Potts will be sidelined for the Boro contest after picking up a knee injury against Hull City.

Dan Iversen and Andrew Hughes also remain doubtful, whilst Robbie Brady and Andrija Vukčević continue working back to full fitness.

Milutin Osmajić misses out on the game due to suspension.
The Hosts​
Middlesbrough have challenged towards the top of the Championship throughout the entirety of this season thus far, under managers Rob Edwards and Kim Hellberg, and currently sit second in the standings.

Only league leaders Coventry City have won more games than the North East outfit at this moment in time, which highlights the consistently high level they have been operating at.

Last time out, Boro came from behind to win away at Stoke City, with former North End captain Alan Browne getting on the scoresheet.

[themaclad]

https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup

Attendance
25,723



It was all going so well in the first minute, firstly we played a good side but we gifted them all four goals, they had players running from deep, passed it around well, and ran into a defence that had disappeared at the first sign of pressure.
Good start by us, possible penalty not given in the first minute, yes it hits his fist, deliberate maybe not, from then on in Franz Klammer performance from the Whites strictly down hill.
First two goals, our ex Browne easily brushes off Lewis, no one in front of him apart from the hapless Walton, ball through legs 1 down.
Whittaker missed when he should have done better will slicing his was through the defence, second Conway acres of space, to paraphrase Barry Davies, "Where was the Preston defence"
The third, some of the bame goes to Gibson but most of it goes to Walton, playing crown green bowls in the area is not the way to go, Gibson slow to react and Whittaker says thank you, the away end a collective groan of FFS
From then on in it was a rearguard effort to limit the damage.
A minute after the break down to ten, Storey slightly unlucky turns and slips as Conway goes past, he falls into the forward who tries to kep his feet but is denied by gravity and down he goes, Storey gets the red from Madley.
The fourth free kick saved by Walton however he pushes it straight into the path of Conway who nets easily.
Unsuprisingly Boro ease off and declare at four.
Grim

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom was left unpleased with the type of goals his side conceded in their 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

North End struggled to match their opposition at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, falling behind after nine minutes when former PNE captain Alan Browne struck for the home side.

The Lilywhites’ boss was disappointed by the manner in which his team fell behind and stated that they must be much better in future contests.



“The goals are terrible,” admitted Hecky. “We started the game bright in terms of territory, possession, set plays and then the first goal is really weak from our point of view.

“It puts us on the back foot. The second one's no better. One of our defenders is 10 yards behind the others, and a couple of goalkeeping errors are thrown in there.

“The game's always going to be difficult if you give four goals away. However, in the first half, they were sharper. They're a good side, we know that.

“On this showing, they were much better than us, but we can't accept that. We've been much better than that for spells this season. Our challenge is to get back to those levels and try to compete with.

“Second best today. I can't accept that they're just better than us and we came here to get beaten.”

Next up for North End is a trip down to Portman Road, where they will face Ipswich Town.

The Lilywhites defeated Kieran McKenna’s side earlier this season, but Hecky believes that PNE will have to increase their levels of intensity to achieve a similar result in East Anglia.




“Every game is (important),” stated the boss. “The last game doesn't make any game more important, unless it's the last game of the season and you're fighting for something.

“I'm more looking at getting back to those levels. Over Christmas, the intensity of it, we were hardly training but rocking up at games and really fighting and scrapping and playing with real intensity.

“Since then, it's as if we can't recreate that intensity on the pitch. We have to do that. We have to be able to compete with these sorts of teams.”

'What a performance' - reaction
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"It's weird when you put so much emotion into the game and it's over after 60 minutes. But what a performance from the lads, what energy.

"Going away to play Stoke on a Wednesday night, travelling eight hours back and forth on the bus, having the West Bromwich game, 16, 17 hours on the bus back and forth, then one day less of rest playing this game on Saturday lunchtime, which is the shortest amount of rest you can get in between games.

"Then to put in that type of energetic performance, that is unbelievable from the players."

[themaclad]

Appeal against Storey sending off